In a statement, the company explained that the closure follows an informal consultation earlier in January with trade unions and the workforce to share the results of a feasibility study on the factory’s future commissioned last year.
The company blames the closure on a significant fall in customer demand for classic knitwear. No other Barbour sites are affected.
Group finance director Brenda Readman-Bell said: “This was a very difficult decision for us to take. The change in the current trend for knitwear means that the demand for the classic knitwear that our factory produces has dropped dramatically. We have gone through a full consultation process with both Unite and the workforce to reach this decision and all 46 employees will receive enhanced redundancy packages.”
