Greencore's Chief Executive has defended the company's policy on wages, following recent controversy.
The Irish company, which provides food to major British retailers such as Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Marks and Spencer, came under fire last month when it was revealed it hired agency staff and paid its workers close to minimum wage.
Chief Executive Patrick Coveney, brother of Irish Government minister Simon Coveney, has defended the company’s stance.
Mr Patrick Coveney told the Irish Times that Greencore is operating in a highly competitive sector and that its pay rates were not unheard of in the industry.
It was revealed last month that the company went directly to Hungary to recruit low-cost workers for its Northampton flagship factory, sparking a lively debate about immigration and labour issues in Britain.
Mr Coveney himself came under fire, when it emerged he earns approximately 160 times the amount of the lowest-paid Greencore worker.
Greenock's sales currently bring in 1.6billion euro annually.
The company has set its sights on America - having already secured deals with Starbucks and 7-Eleven, two of the biggest chain stores in the US.
In a statement to the Irish Times Greencore said: "The majority of our employees are not on the national minimum wage. In the case of Northampton, this figure is less than 10 per cent, which is broadly representative of the rest of the group."
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