MORE than 40 jobs in the Bolton area have been saved following the takeover of a local pizza manufacturer.

Fiesta Fine Foods, which operates on the Wingates Industrial Park in Westhoughton, was ready to close following significant trading losses with the entire workforce of around 100 facing the dole queue.

However, Rossendale company Stateside Holdings, which also makes pizzas, has stepped in at the last moment to buy the company, saving more than 40 jobs.

Stateside chief executive Roy Goodall said: "There was no doubt that Fiesta Fine Foods would have gone under if we had not bought it. It has had tremendous losses."

In addition to saving local jobs, Roy hopes some of the redundant workforce will transfer to the Stateside plant in Rossendale. The manufacturing plant there is being extended by 50pc to cope with the extra demand. There are currently up to 20 jobs on offer.

Says Roy: "While we are sorry to lose many talented and committed members of staff, there is no alternative if we are to save this business and protect the remaining jobs.

"Obviously, we would be prepared to discuss employment opportunities for those who would be willing to travel to Rossendale."

Fiesta directors will be involved with the new operation. Chairman Dennis Halls will resign as a director but will continue in a consultancy role.

Ralph Walsh, managing director of Fiesta Fine Foods, will become site director of the Bolton plant. Andrew Cairnes will head up the group development role.

This is the second time that Chester man Roy Goodall has saved a company from the brink of disaster.

Stateside Foods itself was in a "perilous" state when it was bought in 1991. In the 21 months before Roy took command, the company lost almost £2 million.

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