Sacked Norfolk Feather Company workers win pay fight

More than 40 staff at the Norfolk Feather Company workforce, based in Diss, were told they were out of work in October last year, when the company suddenly closed its doors.

In a letter to employees at that time, director Jo Landy said the directors had taken the decision to cease trading and place the company into creditors' voluntary liquidation, and accordingly had to terminate their employment.

Norfolk Feather Company used to provide pillows to Harrods (Image: Archant)

A group of almost 30 former workers made a claim against the company, on the grounds that bosses had not consulted trade union representatives about the proposed dismissals.

An Employment Tribunal found that a protective pay award should be paid to the affected employees who were dismissed as redundant in October 2022.

That means the claimants will each be entitled to 90 days' pay.

Before it went into liquidation, the company made luxury feather and hollowfibre pillows and duvets for a range of retailers, including Harrods.

But a report to creditors said problems that contributed to the company's closure included a shortage in feather supply from China, due to the coronavirus pandemic and bird flu.

A Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan was taken out and a shareholder stepped in to help pay staff wages.

READ MORE: Former Norfolk Feather Company could become Aldi store

The former Norfolk Feather Company factory (Image: Google Maps)

However, hopes of further investment or support loans to keep it afloat did not materialise and the business was deemed "no longer viable".

At a shareholders' meeting last November, a resolution was passed to voluntarily wind up the company, with Thomas Guthrie and John Rimmer of BRI Business Recovery and Insolvency appointed liquidators.

More than 130 creditors were listed for big and small sums. The total owed to them was calculated at more than £2.5m.