22 September 2006 - Article by Nottingham Evening Post

Northern Foods is moving its technical services department from Farnsworth House in Lenton Lane to BioCity.
It is part of a major restructuring and will lead to the loss of about five jobs. About 60 people are employed at Farnsworth House. A microbiology team of 37 will move to BioCity in Pennyfoot Street, Nottingham, the former research and development facilities of Boots Pharmaceuticals, later sold to BASF and closed down. And Northern Food's chemistry team of 12 will transfer to another company based at BioCity, R5 Pharmaceuticals. Four members of the auditing team will transfer to Northern's head office in Leeds. A company spokesman said a small number of administration and canteen posts will be lost but these were subject to negotiation. The Lenton Lane premises will close early next year and be put up for sale. Northern described the changes as an excellent opportunity to leave an old building and move to a thriving, purpose-built science establishment with excellent facilities. The move would give staff a chance to work alongside a vibrant community of like-minded scientists. A spokesperson said: "BioCity is a purpose-built, dedicated scientific facility, ideally suited for the support of the expert services in Northern Foods, essential to today's food industry. "It will provide an excellent working environment for our high calibre technical team. "Regrettably, the proposal would result in the loss of a small number of jobs currently located at Farnsworth House. Consultation with employees has begun and every assistance will be given to those affected." Northern Foods has a long history of excellence in food science and the company said the decision to move to BioCity reflected its commitment to maintaining the highest technical standards. The proposal is part of a strategic review following Northern Foods' announcement on May 31 to streamline the business, focusing on core areas of expertise.
At the end of May, Northern put Pork Farms in Nottingham up for sale and last month announced the disposal to management of its transport division. The company is in the middle of a structural review aimed at making the business more profitable.