Labour MP hits Campbell’s with ‘Marypride’ initiative

A Labour MP is defying US food giant Campbell’s, which closed a Homepride sauces factory in his constituency town of Maryport, by launching his own initiative, called “Marypride”.

Campbell’s closed the profitable factory eight weeks after buying it for 58.6m, and moved production to alternative sites.

Now MP Dale Campbell-Savours has launched the “Marypride” scheme, with the West Cumbria Development Agency, to find a food company to buy the empty factory.

Barbara Stephens, chief executive of the WCDA, says: “We are trying to find some money and a management team interested in establishing a new food production company in West Cumbria.

“Marypride is a concept, it’s a name that Dale coined, a combination of Maryport and Homepride. It’s a powerful marketing tool.”

Campbell-Savours led the protests against Campbell’s decision to close the plant, and tabled a Commons motion urging the food manufacturer to reverse its decision, which was signed by 331 MPs.

He also called on consumers to boycott Campbell’s soups, sauces and Fray Bentos pies.