THE humble Chiko Roll could go offshore after its maker threatened to close up Australian operations today.

Simplot Australia, the company behind products by Birdseye, Edgell and the famous fish and chip shop staple the Chiko Roll has warned its 325 Australian employees their jobs are at risk and local operations are under threat.

A statement warned "Bathurst, New South Wales and Devonport, Tasmania food manufacturing plants are under threat of closure.

"This is due to unsatisfactory financial returns arising from a very competitive food industry environment and unsustainably high costs associated with manufacturing in Australia."

Simplot, which is owned by Idaho-based food manufacturer J.R. Simplot, supplies Coles and makes products for brand names including Chiko, Edgell, Birdseye, Seakist, Lean Cuisine and John West.

The company, which has been in Australia since 1995 and owns six plants across the country, has planned to meet with Government and union representatives to search for a way forward but may go the way of Heinz, which closed up Australian tomato sauce operations in January last year.