A HAMPSHIRE-based salad supplier has announced it is to close its head office and cut 25 jobs.

Vitacress is to close its office in Eastleigh as part of a reorganisation of its management structure and expects to make 25 management roles redundant.

The company is streamlining its operation and re-organising the management of its three businesses.

A spokesman for Vitacress confirmed that there would be job losses in Eastleigh, but was unable to specify how many as the details have not been finalised as the month-long employee consultation is ongoing.

He said that some staff at Eastleigh would continue to work for the group but be moved to Chichester and St Mary Bourne, near Andover, where the company has packing plants.

The Eastleigh site would close at the end of the year.

Vitacress, a fresh produce group that encompasses Vitacress Salads, VHB and Wight Salads, said the move, which includes a new management structure for the three UK businesses, was to “create a leaner, more customer-focused business”.

Regret In total the group, which employs around 2,000 people in the UK, says its growing, packing and distribution centres will not be affected by the changes.

Toby Brinsmead, chief executive of Vitacress, which has its head office in Stoneham Lane, said: “The changes we are announcing will give us a simpler structure, closer to our customers, with more ability to invest in the future.

“We regret the redundancies we are planning to make and will do all we can to look after those people who are affected.”