R Griggs Group to close Dr Martens factory in Somerset
Footwear manufacturers R Griggs Group is to start a consultation process to end operations at its Shepton Mallet plant in Somerset, UK, where some of the Dr Martens range of footwear is produced. The company blamed the decision on poor export orders, which account for 85% of its business. Half of all production goes to the US, where the economy is currently in recession and sales have been affected.
Around 265 people could lose their jobs at the plant, reducing the number of people working in the leather industry in Somerset to a fraction of the 10,000 people who worked there 15 years ago.
Company spokesman William Johnson said: "We are disappointed to have to take such action but our decision is designed to ensure that the Dr Martens brand will remain competitive in the global marketplace". The company also said that an announcement would be made about staffing at its head office operations at some point in January, 2002.
R Griggs will still manufacture Dr Martens footwear at three other factories in the UK, in Northamptonshire and Leicestershire. The original boots were invented by a German soldier in 1945, but the patent is owned by R Griggs, a family owned business that employs 2,500 and produces 10 million pairs of boots and shoes a year.
