The Swiss food giant Nestlé announced Wednesday the closure by the end of 2023 of a factory in England, part of the production of which will be transferred to Europe, and the cut of 573 jobs in the country.
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This is the Fawdon site in Newcastle in the northeast, the statement said.
This factory, opened in 1958, notably manufactures Fruit Pastilles fruit candies.
At the same time, Nestlé will invest 29.4 million in its factories in York and Halifax, both located in the north of England.
The group's objective is to be more efficient and to concentrate its strengths on its main confectionery brands.
The Fawdon factory is home to smaller, low-growth brands, while requiring complex production techniques, according to Nestlé, which employs a total of 8,000 people in the UK.
The sites of York, which manufactures Kit Kats and where the brand was created in 1935, and Halifax, which will take over part of Fawdon's production, have more identified specialties.
Nestlé's confectionery business "
has an ambitious UK strategy and these proposals should ensure our long-term success in an increasingly competitive market,
" says Nestlé.
organic growth in average sales "
figure
"
GMB and Unite unions said in a joint statement that 475 jobs are at risk in Fawdon and 98 in York due to the reorganization.
Ross Murdoch, head of GMB denounces the “
greed
” of the group.
“
Nestlé is the largest food producer in the world, with astronomical profits.
He can afford to treat his workers well.
Instead, they let factories collapse, relocate production and cut 600 jobs,
”he said.
In the first quarter, the turnover of the Swiss group increased by 1.3% compared to the comparable period of last year, to 21.1 billion Swiss francs, he revealed the week last.
Nestlé has confirmed its forecasts for 2021. The group, which owns in particular the Nespresso coffee pods and Maggi broths, is still targeting organic growth in its average “single
digit
”
sales
.
