Staff who were ‘sacked without warning’ from famous Worksop butchers Bird’s unite to open their own shop

A group of determined workers who were left jobless and devastated when they were ‘sacked without warning’ from well-known Worksop butchers Bird’s have joined forces to open their own shop.
Former staff at Bird's in Worksop are setting up their own sandwich shop after Bird's was recently closed down at short notice. Pictured are Tracey Mattey and Maureen Lidgett.Former staff at Bird's in Worksop are setting up their own sandwich shop after Bird's was recently closed down at short notice. Pictured are Tracey Mattey and Maureen Lidgett.
Former staff at Bird's in Worksop are setting up their own sandwich shop after Bird's was recently closed down at short notice. Pictured are Tracey Mattey and Maureen Lidgett.

Tracy Mattey, Maureen Lidgett and Dayna Smith are just three of the many dedicated staff members at Bird’s who were stripped of their jobs in March when the owner ‘came in, pulled the shutters down and told everyone that was that.’

It was later revealed that the company, which had operated on Bridge Place for over a century, had gone into voluntary liquidation- but determined not to be defeated, Tracy came up with an idea.

She told the Guardian: “I was, and still am, disgusted about the whole thing- how we were all dismissed from jobs that we had worked hard at for so many years.”

“There was no announcement beforehand, or thought for any of our futures.”

“But I was later approached by a business who recognised there was a demand for a sandwich shop in the area, as Bird’s wasn’t just a butchers but also very popular in the town for its fresh hot and cold sandwiches, jacket potatoes, salads and other lunchtime snacks like that.”

It is hoped the new shop, Fresh to Go will open on Tuesday 30th June on Bridge Place, just a few metres away from the old Bird’s site, which is currently to let.

Tracy added: “We want to let people know that Fresh To Go will serve the food Worksop customers loved from Bird’s, at the same great prices”

“We hope everyone will come along and support the new business, which is independent and not a chain.”

The new establishment will be managed by Tracy who will oversee a staff of three people, including Maureen and Dayna.

Maureen said: “We are still so angry about what has happened at Bird’s, but it has only spurred us on to make Fresh to Go even more of a success.”

The owner of Bird’s, Claudia Bird, told the Guardian: “Over the past few years it had become more and more difficult to compete with larger companies, and the ever changing high street in Worksop.”

“Although we had always prided ourselves with the quality of our products and the fact that we had provided jobs for local people for over a century, since 1902, we were no longer able to sustain the business.”

“All employees were informed either verbally or by letter that the company was going into voluntary liquidation.”

“ Therefore they all received their notice of their redundancy entitlements.”

“The staff were told on a regular basis that things were tough at Bird’s.”

“As a company everyone worked extremely hard to keep things going, but in the end the company was no longer viable.”

“ We would like to take this opportunity to wish the ladies every success in their new shop,” Claudia added.

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