Carpet Maker Bremworth Is Offering Staff At Its Cyclone-Damaged Napier Factory The Option Of Voluntary Redundancy Or Redeployment To Its Whanganui Plant

Carpet maker Bremworth is offering staff at its cyclone-damaged Napier factory the option of voluntary redundancy or redeployment to its Whanganui plant. Bremworth’s yarn spinning plant in Napier’s Awatoto industrial area was damaged by flooding from Cyclone Gabrielle and the company has had to source dyed fibre and yarn from New Zealand and finished yarn from overseas suppliers for its Whanganui and Papatoetoe plants. Chief executive Greg Smith says the company is unsure of the future of the plant. He says the 147 Napier staff have been paid from insurance proceeds since the plant went offline in February, and have helped with the cleanup. On the positive side the alternative supply arrangements for dyed fibre and yarns have been successful allowing the to its distribution partners. Bremworth is presenting options to staff including voluntary redundancy or redeployment to Bremworth’s Whanganui plant.