MANUFACTURING in Kendal was dealt another serious blow this week with the news that long-established carpet firm Goodacres would move all its production to Poland resulting in the loss of 39 jobs, reports Caroline Beamish.

The firm, which has been producing high quality carpets in the town since 1863, confirmed its traditional, Herdwick and Lakeland ranges would all be transferred to the factory of southern Polish Axminster carpet company Fabryka Dywanow Kowary, to cut currently unviable manufacturing costs.

Mike Cornish, Chief Executive of Goodacre Carpets, expressed regret at the decision to cut the production jobs in winding, setting, weaving and finishing, but denied the move meant the products, including the Herdwick range endorsed by The National Trust, would lose its local identity.

He said it would help secure the firm's position as a leading manufacturer of high quality carpets for the UK and overseas market, albeit from an off-shore production base, and, crucially, help safeguard the remaining 37 jobs in this country.

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