Proposals have been made to shut down the site in Widford, with some office-based staff being transferred to jobs in the firm’s headquarters in Hemel Hempstead.
If the move goes ahead, it will also include the closure of Britvic’s Pennine Spring water factory in Huddersfield and a warehouse in Belfast. In total, around 300 jobs could be lost.
A company spokeswoman said: “As a result of a recent strategic review into the efficiency of our group supply chain network, we are announcing the proposed closure of the Chelmsford and Huddersfield factories, and the proposed relocation of Chelmsford-based office functions to our head office in Breakspear Park, Hemel Hempstead.
The cuts are aimed at improving returns for shareholders and come ahead of a Competition Commission decision on its merger with Irn-Bru owner AG Barr, expected by July.
The possible loss of jobs was described as ‘a bitter blow’ for the workforce and the local economies by Unite, the largest union in the UK.
Unite is due to hold talks next week with the management with the aim of keeping the Widford factory in Chelmsford open, where there are 230 jobs under threat, and to safeguard the employment of the workers.
“It should be remembered that this is a very profitable company and could well afford to keep all these existing operations going,” said Jennie Formby, Unite national officer for food and drink. “Unite will be doing all it can in the coming weeks to support our members through this difficult period.”
Source: Braintree and Witham Times/BBC/Unite
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