Cadbury Cuts 700 Jobs

The sweet manufacturer Cadbury has announced today it is closing a major production outlet in Bristol as part of an operational restructuring which will see around 500 jobs go over the next three years as production moves across the EU to cheaper labour nations.

The massive confectionary brand, owned by Cadbury Schweppes, announced today that is Keynsham production outlet was to be phased out up to 2010, with around 500 employees being made redundant in the process.

It has additionally announced its Birmingham Bournville plant will close over the same period as part of a wider cost saving exercise, which would see another 200 lose their jobs from that production outlet.

The site is likely to be sold off, which is expected to raise millions for the company given the prime location of the land and indeed the heritage of the plant itself which has become something of a local treasure.

Additionally union bosses have supported Cadbury in their choice, and whilst the news is naturally disappointing they have applauded Cadbury for its commitment to helping re-employ the staff with other local based companies to avoid singificant economic upheavel in the area.

Whilst the unions will continue to fight against the proposed closures, statements today suggested they were already resigned to the move of key production facilities to Poland, which will help save Cadbury millions on its wage bill over the long term.

The move comes just four years after 170 employees from the same Keynsham factory lost their jobs to make way for more efficient, technologically advanced production techniques for cheaper manufacturing processes.

The closure is expected to have a strong impact on the local economy as a major source of employment and community, which unions are saying will have a devastating effect on the local area as a whole.

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