ALMOST 450 jobs near Selby are at risk under plans to close a salad distribution site following the loss of a major supermarket contract.

Yorkshire Fresh Fruit based at Camblesforth, near Selby, is facing closure after the business lost a supply deal with Asda.

Bakkavor, the business's Icelandic parent company, told the site's 445 employees yesterday, with a 45-day consultation period getting underway with immediate effect.

The business said Yorkshire Fresh Fruit will be working closely with UNITE, the recognised union for the site, as well as considering all representations made on behalf of the company’s employees.

A statement from international fresh food supplier Bakkavor, said: "Bakkavor appreciates that this is an unsettling and difficult time for everyone at Yorkshire Fresh Fruit, and would like to stress that this proposal in no way reflects the commitment and hard work of the employees at the site.

"The Company will work closely with elected staff representatives to keep all staff appropriately updated throughout the consultation period."

Bakkavor said it will be looking at options to relocated affected staff to alternative sites in the UK, with the nearest Bakkavor operations being New Primebake, in Barton-on-Humber, Welcome Foods in Nottinghamshire and Hitchen Foods in Wigan.

The news follows previous business closures by Bakkavor Group, which axed English Village Salads from the Camblesforth site in September 2011.

At that time Yorkshire Fresh Fruit employed a team of around 170 staff.

English Village Salads then ceased trading entirely in March the following year, again due to the loss of a contract with Asda, after the supermarket decided to make the majority of its salads in-house.

English Village Salads' Newport site near Goole, where 178 staff were employed, closed in March 2012 with work going to Melrow Salads, near Southport, also part of the Bakkavor Group. Around 140 staff were made redundant.