It has been nearly four weeks since the shock decision to close Manildra Meat Company in Cootamundra was announced, but for one ex-employee, the decision came as no shock at all.
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The former employee, who wishes to remain anonymous as they speak about the way the closure was handled, has hopes of returning to the business should its doors eventually reopen.
“It didn’t come as a surprise to any of the workers that the business closed,” the former employee said.
“When the company was sold a few years ago, the new managers that were appointed all came from businesses outside the meat industry,” the former employee said.
“So they lacked understanding on how the meat trade works. In my opinion, they spent too much time rushing to get international orders and the business just wasn’t ready for that.”
“In the process they lost all of their smaller, loyal contracts, and eventually they even lost the contract for Woolworths,” the former employee said.
“The Woolworths contract was huge – we processed between 1400 to 1600 kg daily for them.
“That contract has now gone to Gundagai.”
“Also, it wasn’t just about the closure – it was the way the closure was handled.” the former employee said.
“The workers were all called in at 2pm and told that we no longer had jobs, but there were kids talking about it days before at Murrumburrah High School.
“And it had already been put up on Facebook – so the workers were the last to know.”
“There were a lot of young school leavers working at Manildra, where are they going to get jobs now?” The former employee asked.
“It’s not like there is a lot of industry here in Harden and the business that were connected to the meat industry, like the transport companies, are now going to struggle.”
Fairfax journalists have tried several times to contact Manildra, but as yet has not had a response.
