Premier Foods said 580 jobs were at risk from its proposals to close six of its 11 factories following a review of its UK manufacturing facilities.

Premier Foods, home to Branston Pickle, Oxo stock cubes and Crosse & Blackwell sauces, said it planned to close factories in Bristol, Droylsden (Manchester), Ledbury (Herefordshire), Middlewich (Cheshire), Reading (Berkshire), and Wythenshawe (Manchester) by early 2009.

The group said it would invest in the remaining five sites that were covered by the review in Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire, Cambridgeshire, Kent and Suffolk.

Premier Foods has bought its way to becoming Britain's largest food firm, buying rivals Campbells and RHM, and the group confirmed it saw annual cost savings of around 113 million pounds from the deals.

The group is due to issue a first-half trading update on July 9. Reuters