Cadbury to Close UK Plant, Transfer Jobs to Poland

Cadbury Schweppes has announced proposals to restructure its UK chocolate manufacturing in order to achieve greater supply chain efficiencies, resulting in around 700 job losses.

The company is proposing a phased closure of the Keynsham chocolate factory in southwest England from 2009 to 2010, affecting around 500 employees. Chocolate production currently carried out at Keynsham is to move to the Bournville factory in Birmingham and to other factories in Poland.

It is also proposed that some chocolate assortment production would move from Bournville to Poland in 2008. This, together with an ongoing efficiency improvement plan, is to result in the reduction of approximately 200 jobs in Bournville between 2008 and 2010.

Trevor Bond, managing director, commented: “In order to continue to compete in the extremely competitive confectionery industry in the future we need to make the right decisions today. While the proposed closure of our Keynsham factory will be difficult for those affected our ongoing commitment to manufacturing in the UK is absolute.”