14 January, 2008 - Cadbury Schweppes has confirmed it will definitely close its chocolate factory in Keynsham, near Bristol, after a 90-day consultation period, trade union officials said today.
The move will lead to loss of 500 jobs when the confectionery giant goes ahead with the closure in 2010.
A company statement obtained by the BBC said: "Cadbury can confirm that it has considered the union's alternative proposal for Somerdale (Keynsham) but has told them that, unfortunately, it would not sufficiently reduce costs to a level at which we were able to compete effectively with other UK confectionery manufacturers.
"Cadbury is therefore informing employees at its Somerdale factory in Keynsham it will proceed with the phased closure of the site as part of the restructuring of its UK manufacturing base."
Trade union leaders from Unite said they would continue to fight the closure of the factory.
Unite national organiser for food and agriculture Brian Revell criticised the company, labelling the decision “disgraceful”;
He added the move would be adding 12 million food miles to Cadbury’s brands, claiming 98 pct of the factory’s output was sold in the UK.
Last October, Cadbury announced the plan to shut the factory, which makes a host of well-known chocolate bars such as Crunchie and Fudge, and switch production to its Bournville plant near Birmingham and a new site in Poland.