Nestlé slashes 600 jobs and announces plans to shut UK factory

The Daily Star’s FREE newsletter is spectacular! Sign up today for the best stories straight to your inbox

Chocolate giant Nestlé has announced post-Covid plans to close a UK-based factory, putting almost 600 jobs at risk, the company said.

The company, which produces the likes of Kit Kat and Smarties, said it aims to close its Newcastle upon Tyne factory by the end of 2023.

It will then invest £29million into its other UK-based sites in York and Halifax, switching some production to Europe.

Sadly, the move puts almost 600 workers at risk of losing their job, the company announced on Wednesday April 28.

Nestlé said it hopes the changes will create a "more efficient manufacturing footprint" within the company.

In a statement, Nestlé said: "Our Fawdon factory is home to many smaller, low-growth brands and maintains a diverse and complex mix of production techniques. In contrast, our factories at York and Halifax have clearer specialisms and manufacture some of Nestlé’s biggest brands.

"The decision to propose Fawdon’s closure follows significant investment and a sustained effort by the factory team to reduce that complexity and introduce new products in recent years. The skilled and dedicated team at Fawdon have worked tirelessly to deliver those changes and these proposals are absolutely no reflection on their efforts.

"If these proposals go ahead, we would expect, in future, to be manufacturing a higher volume of products overall while operating a smaller number of factories.

"We do not underestimate the impact that the closure of Fawdon factory would have on the local area and, as part of the consultation, we want to work with the local community to find ways that we can support the area and our employees if these proposals were to go ahead."

Get latest news headlines delivered free

Want all the latest shocking news and views from all over the world straight into your inbox?

We've got the best royal scoops, crime dramas and breaking stories – all delivered in that Daily Star style you love.

Our great newsletters will give you all you need to know, from hard news to that bit of glamour you need every day. They'll drop straight into your inbox and you can unsubscribe whenever you like.

You can sign up here – you won't regret it…

Nestlé said it made the announcement in time to allow for possible consultation with workers and unions.

This is a breaking news story and is constantly being updated.

Please refresh the page regularly to get the latest updates.

Reporters working on dailystar.co.uk will be working to source the latest information, reaction, pictures and video related to this story.

You can also follow us on Twitter @DailyStar to get the latest news updates 24 hours a day.

Or download the Daily Star app for flash alerts on the biggest stories of the day.

Why not also subscribe to receive our regular Daily Star news bulletins? You can do this on this page by simply entering your email address above and hitting 'subscribe'.

You can also sign up to our showbiz, sport and lifestyle newsletters by clicking here.

  • In the News

Source: Read Full Article