COOK in Sittingbourne to pay staff the living wage

A frozen food manufacturer have given its staff a cool pay rise after becoming a living wage employer.

COOK, which makes its products from its kitchen in Sittingbourne, will pay £7.85 an hour to workers or £9.15 if they are based in London.

Founder Edward Perry said the move was possible now the company is in a “robust financial position” after 18 years in business.

Cook founder Edward Perry receives his firm's accreditation from the Living Wage Foundation
Cook founder Edward Perry receives his firm's accreditation from the Living Wage Foundation

The firm employs 322 people at 43 company-owned shops and at its manufacturing sites in Kent and Somerset. It has 89 staff based in Sittingbourne.

The move after Chancellor George Osborne revealed in his first budget in a Conservative-majority government that over 25s will be paid at least £7.20 an hour from April next year.

His new national living wage will rise to more than £9 an hour by 2020.

“We felt it would be inappropriate for shareholders to get a dividend while COOK wasn’t paying people a living wage, as measured by a credible, independent benchmark...” - Edward Perry, COOK

COOK founder Edward Perry said: “Our purpose at COOK is to create a remarkable food business that’s a force for good in society.

"That means paying people properly so they don’t need to depend on state handouts to survive and also making sure everyone shares in our success.

“We were already paying above the minimum wage of £6.50 an hour but after 18 years I’m very pleased that COOK is finally in a robust financial position, making a decent profit each year.

“Most of that profit is ploughed back into the business. What’s left over is available to be paid as dividends to shareholders.

“We felt it would be inappropriate for shareholders to get a dividend while COOK wasn’t paying people a living wage, as measured by a credible, independent benchmark.”

More than 1,500 companies are living wage accredited just three years after the initiative was launched.

Living Wage Foundation director Rhys Moore said: “At a time when over half of those in poverty are also in work, the living wage can make a real difference to hard working families.”

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