Cava firm Freixenet to furlough 80% of its workers in Catalonia due to drought

Spanish-German company announces lay offs as north-eastern Spain struggles with drought

The Spanish-German cava giant Freixenet, known for its distinctive black glass bottles of sparkling wine, is to furlough 80% of its workers in Catalonia as the north-eastern Spanish region struggles with a drought that has lasted more than three years and severely affected grape production.

In a statement released this week, Freixenet said the temporary lay off – which will apply to as many as 615 of the 778 people it employs in Catalonia – would begin in May.