Christian Salvesen has radically restructured its UK food manufacturing business ­ but insists it has no plans to sell off the division. As part of the restructuring, the company has closed its Dundee and Peterborough factories leading to between 50 and 60 job losses. The restructured business, which will be called Christian Salvesen Foods, goes live on April 1. It combines Tendafrost's sales and marketing arm with Salvesen's food processing and repacking operations, traditionally run separately. Operations director Steve Marx said: "The restructure allows us to take advantage of synergies across the business and cut costs. "Food is not core to Salvesen and never has been, but we are creating storage and distribution opportunities, and while it's profitable, the division will not be sold." Marx added: "It would not be easy to split the business off, but I don't imagine there would be a long queue if it were put up for sale." Salvesen's food customers include Bernard Matthews, Birds Eye Wall's, CWS, Kwik Save, Sainsbury, Somerfield, Tesco and Waitrose. Chris Wenham, commercial director for the new unit, said: "The major objectives are to improve efficiency, maximise our assets and reduce operating costs at a time when the European food processing industry is in an increasing state of flux and faces a growing number of challenges." {{NEWS }}