MORE than 90 jobs are at risk at a Christchurch catering firm, the Daily Echo can reveal.

Silverstar Foods Ltd merged with the former Coastline Produce Ltd early last year, promising to create more than 100 new jobs over the following two years.

The firm trades as Turners Fine Foods from its offices in Airfield Way Christchurch, and also from former Coastline bases in Kent and on the Isle of Wight.

However staff received a letter over the weekend warning that 91 people at the Christchurch office face possible redundancy.

The letter said the company had to make “hard decisions” about its future.

“The company has decided, following much deliberation, that there is a risk that it may therefore have to make redundancies,” it said.

“At this stage, we anticipate that approximately 91 employees may be made redundant at Christchurch.”

Also, the letter put a provisional closing date for redundancy negotiations at July 17.

Silverstar is based in Kent and Lancashire and its Turners Fine Foods brand supplies cheese, charcuterie, deli and other such produce to hoteliers, caterers and retailers. Silverstar reported turnover of £41.5m last year.

Employee Andy Ebdon, a 50-year-old lorry driver from Springbourne, said it would be a “devastating” blow for the town.

“These people have families, and there are a couple of husband and wife pairs where both work there.

“It is terrible.”

Mr Ebdon claimed 19 of his fellow drivers were made redundant a couple of months ago, and said that if a further 91 staff follow it would empty the Christchurch office.

“I used to love the job, but when Turners took over last January from the word go they have decimated the workforce and let a lot of customers down.

“It was a £20 million a year company, it has taken 13 months for them to completely demolish its trade.”

Silverstar Foods declined to comment.