Cadbury Trebor Bassett has announced the closure of its Keynsham factory in south-west England; the news is part of an efficiency drive which will see some operations move to Poland.
A phased closure will see the factory wind down from 2009 to 2010; a move that will affect all 500 employees. A further 200 jobs will go at the main site in Bourneville when a large part of the manufacturing is outsourced to Poland.
The chocolate maker said it was entering into the consultation of employees with “sensitivity” and would be making “significant” resources available to help employees find new jobs or retrain.
Trevor Bond, managing director, said: “Cadbury is a great British company which has become an international success. In order to continue to compete in the extremely competitive confectionery industry in the future we need to make the right decisions today.
“Whilst the proposed closure of our Keynsham factory will be difficult for those affected, our ongoing commitment to manufacturing in the UK is absolute. Our significant investment in Bournville is a testament to that.”
