Cereal company Weetabix is planning a cut in hours and pay in an attempt to avoid redundancies as it faces pressure from supermarket own brands and discount grocers.

The Northamptonshire-based company employs some 2,000 workers.

In a briefing document answering questions from Usdaw, the trade union, In a statement this weekend, the company said: “The Weetabix Food Company is consulting with its trade union representatives to explore potential changes to shift patterns and associated payments. Weetabix has a strong working relationship with all of its trade unions and our colleagues at our Burton Latimer and Corby sites.”

The company added: “Weetabix has always tightly managed its cost base in order to allow the company to drive growth. The breakfast category is dynamic, and the company needs to be able to adapt to meet the changing needs of today’s modern families.”