HAMPSHIRE has suffered a major jobs blow after one firm has quit the county, the Daily Echo can reveal.

Jena UK has closed its headquarters in Romsey's industrial estate as well as a base in Otterbourne.

Around 90 jobs have been lost with the closure of the two sites.

The firm has moved its disposable catering products distribution operation to Yardley in Birmingham.

The company’s manufacturing site at Otterbourne has been transferred to Bridgend in Wales.

Company bosses have been reducing staffing levels at both operations since May and they have now closed.

Jena which supplies large chain supermarkets such as Tesco and Asda with its products started out about 40 years ago at Chandler’s Ford.

Its Romsey depot opened in the 1990s.

Currently it has a sales office at Chandler’s Ford and the company has confirmed that it will keep one in Hampshire but the exact location is yet to be finalised.

Director David Smith said: “Originally in the Hampshire area we probably had about 90 people covering sites in Romsey and Otterbourne.

“We began closing them three or four months ago in a staggered move and the final five jobs went at Romsey last week.

“All the work is now being done in Birmingham and Bridgend.

“We did offer employees in Romsey jobs in Birmingham but no one wanted to transfer to the Midlands and people at Otterbourne were offered jobs in Bridgend but again no one wanted to move there. We had a fantastic team at Romsey over the years.”

He confirmed that cost-cutting was just one reason for relocating the successful business to Birmingham.

“Jena had a long-term lease on the buildings in Romsey which ended this year. We had the option to renew the lease or look at cheaper premises.

"We looked at buying premises in Hampshire but they were substantially more expensive than in the Midlands where we own the buildings we have in Birmingham, so we decided to move out of Romsey,” said Mr Smith.

Romsey’s mayor Dorothy Baverstock said: “We need all the business we can get in Romsey to keep the town vibrant and people in work.

“There are relatively few job opportunity’s in Romsey. Most people have to go outside the town to find work.

“It’s also very disappointing because of the lack of take-up of units on that industrial estate and the whole place needs a face lift to encourage more businesses onto the estate.”

Romsey and District Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Peter Speirs said: “As with the loss of any business, it is a shame to lose jobs.”