The McCain vegetable processing plant in Hastings will close by the end of January 2027, the company has confirmed, but is refusing to say how many jobs are going.
McCain New Zealand has two sites – Timaru and Hastings – under global company McCain Foods Limited, which was the world’s largest manufacturer of frozen foods.
The factory on Omahu Rd in Twyford processes more than 50,000 tonnes of vegetables annually, including peas, beans, sweetcorn, and carrots.
In a statement this afternoon, a McCain spokesperson said the Hastings plant would "close at the end of this year’s processing and packing season, which is expected to conclude by January 31, 2027".
"The decision follows a strategic review of our Hastings operations and reflects a shift in how McCain will supply its vegetable portfolio within Australia and New Zealand. After carefully considering a range of options, we determined that transitioning to a different supply model is the most responsible path forward and best supports the long-term vision of our organisation. McCain is currently consulting with all employees whose roles would be affected by the planned closure."
The spokesperson said roles at the Hastings site would be impacted as operations wind down.
"McCain is consulting and communicating directly with affected employees whose roles may be impacted by providing them with all relevant information about the planned closure, and is also providing dedicated transition assistance, career support, and access to wellbeing services."
1News asked how many jobs are affected, but the company refused to say. McCain employs around 1200 people in New Zealand and Australia.
Earlier this month, New Zealand food manufacturing giant Heinz Wattie’s Limited proposed to discontinue the sale and production of its frozen vegetables.
Around 350 roles were impacted, as the company said it planned to close its Christchurch factory, which produced frozen veges, alongside sites in Auckland and Dunedin.
McCain closure will hit hard – Labour
Labour jobs and income spokesperson Ginny Andersen says the closure was "another blow" that would "hit workers, their families, and the Hawke's Bay community hard".
"Sadly, this is not a one-off event at one company, this is part of a broader pattern of closures affecting thousands of jobs across the manufacturing sector under Christopher Luxon’s watch."
Andersen said the closure was the latest among major companies reducing their workforces. “We’ve now seen major closures at Wattie’s, Kinleith Mill, Winstone Pulp, Sealord, and many other companies reducing their workforces."
"Each one of those jobs lost is a family struggling to pay the bills or a loved one moving to Australia."
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