67 jobs are expected to be lost two days before Christmas Day at Deane Apparel’s Christchurch factory.

The family business was founded in 1932 and has offices in Christchurch and Auckland.

General manager Corey Mulligan told Chris Lynch management met with staff yesterday to announce the proposal to close.

He said he’s working with teams through a consultation period and a final decision is expected on 2nd of December.

If the decision goes ahead, the factory would close on the 23rd of December.

Mr Mulligan said it’s been a long time coming, and the company has delayed the decision for some time.

But he told Chris Lynch “ultimately it’s been a change in customer preference.”

“The Christchurch factory makes specialty garments, and the company has been seeing less demand for these and more demand for lower cost imported products.”

Mr Mulligan said the company has loyal employees and many of them had been at the company on average for 15 years, and two members have been with the company for over 40 years.

Counselling is being offered to workers, along with new job support.

He said if the proposal does go ahead staff from the Ministry of Social Development will be on site to discuss benefit support.