UP to 1,700 workers were braced for redundancy yesterday after Rentokil Initial cut its losses on its UK linen and workwear services business.
Rentokil said the business had suffered from a significant lack of investment, an inefficient distribution structure and had pursued a "flawed commercial strategy" for many years.
Rentokil said it would focus on its UK washroom and dustmat business, adding: "Having explored thoroughly all options for exiting the loss-making operations, the company has regretfully concluded that these operations will be closed on April 30, 2006."
The business employs about 2,000 staff across the UK and Rentokil said as many as 1,700 positions could be made redundant, although no decision had been taken on exactly how many staff will go.
The biggest regional operation affected is in London, with other sites to be hit including Lowestoft, Suffolk and Nottingham.
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