View Full Version : Kraft - 400 Cadbury's jobs in Bristol to go!
Weeks after promising the Bristol workforce that they would not shut the plant there they have now announced that they will continue with plans originally formulated by Cadbury's to close the plant.
Well there's a big surprise. Another UK manufacturing plant to have its order books shifted abroad after a takeover!
Perhaps a change in the law is reqd., i.e. any foreign company that buys a UK company must guarantee manufacturing for two years post takeover, and no redundancies. A bit naive maybe from a business perspective but at present a foreign company can guarantee their continued growth by buying a UK order book and closing the UK side of the business - asset stripping.
And it doesn't just affect the Cadbury's workers. THere's all the support/service industries, and we through our taxes will be left to pick up the pieces too.
454697819
10-02-10, 08:25 AM
makes the chocolate taste slightly bitter now
gruntygiggles
10-02-10, 08:28 AM
That's absolutely awful news. Used to walk the other side of the river from that factory every day with the dogs til we moved a bit too far away. Not not good :-(
But as you've said, Cadbury's were going to close the factory anyway, so it's a bit harsh blaming Kraft for just basically confirming the inevitable. They never said they'd keep the plant open, but that they'd just review the situation. Devils advocate and all that. of course i feel for the workers, but its not come as a shock
blackknight
10-02-10, 09:04 AM
at christmas i lost my job been there 20 years. same situation foreign company takes over and took all the order book back to germany . so i know how cadbury workers feel
But as you've said, Cadbury's were going to close the factory anyway, so it's a bit harsh blaming Kraft for just basically confirming the inevitable. They never said they'd keep the plant open, but that they'd just review the situation. Devils advocate and all that. of course i feel for the workers, but its not come as a shock
According to the press association release Kraft, during the 5 months leading up to the takeover, told the workers they would not shut the plant. Bearing in mind it was a hostile takeover, and Kraft did not have access to the Cadbury plans in detail but they were aware of Cadbury's intentions.
The takeover is less than two weeks old and I'd say Kraft haven't had time to carry out a comprehensive review - Christ, they've probably only just found the coffee machine in the brew room.
Yes it would have closed if it would have stayed under Cadbury's ownership but to engender the support of the Cadbury's worker, during the last 5 months, with false promises...
suzsv650
10-02-10, 09:12 AM
Keynsham has never seen so much press! tbh the place is old, however i will miss the dirt cheap chocolate! oh and the summer evening rides that smell of hot chocolate. It's gona be turned into houses and theres a lot of space for that!
gruntygiggles
10-02-10, 09:22 AM
Well, if they turn that building into apartments then it'll be a lovely place to live. Just outside Keynsham and with views of the river and fields....lovely. Still a massive shame that it' another local factory biting the dust!
suzsv650
10-02-10, 09:24 AM
Well, if they turn that building into apartments then it'll be a lovely place to live. Just outside Keynsham and with views of the river and fields....lovely. Still a massive shame that it' another local factory biting the dust!
Yeap and get a small boat and you can row over to the Chequers pub (lovely place)
gruntygiggles
10-02-10, 09:28 AM
Yeap and get a small boat and you can row over to the Chequers pub (lovely place)
We used to walk the dogs along the river (towards Cadbury's, not bristol) and they'd swim and get soaked....then sit outside the Chequers with a pint and basket of chips!
According to the press association release Kraft, during the 5 months leading up to the takeover, told the workers they would not shut the plant. Bearing in mind it was a hostile takeover, and Kraft did not have access to the Cadbury plans in detail but they were aware of Cadbury's intentions.
The takeover is less than two weeks old and I'd say Kraft haven't had time to carry out a comprehensive review - Christ, they've probably only just found the coffee machine in the brew room.
Yes it would have closed if it would have stayed under Cadbury's ownership but to engender the support of the Cadbury's worker, during the last 5 months, with false promises...
aye, you're right. Just read the Independant online and it pretty much says the same, not good. and indeed out of order :(
speedplay
10-02-10, 09:51 AM
You should see what the atmosphere is like here at cadbury bournville...
suzsv650
10-02-10, 10:04 AM
We used to walk the dogs along the river (towards Cadbury's, not bristol) and they'd swim and get soaked....then sit outside the Chequers with a pint and basket of chips!
Awsome! That place is so good on a good summers day. They even do Thatchers Slush:thumleft:
I appreciate you have to consider people but... Business is business and it's about making money. If you can produce something in a differentlocation for half the price then you are going to do it.
I'm sure china etc are loving all the extra jobs as are their goverments. It's the uk goverment and people expecting everything for very little that is the problem in this country.
dizzyblonde
10-02-10, 10:27 AM
Another large confectionary company 'willy wonks' we'll call them, have had rumours flinging round their factory for years that they'd ship it all off to Poland. As soon as anything different was put in place, the same rumour came back.
Now four years on after a huge sweep in redundancies, to get rid of all the old hens that weren't good for business, they're still here. When the redunancies were going ahead, that rumour of we're all dooooomed was rife!
Funny thing is, even though people werer made redundant and new cheaper staff replaced them, they soon had to bring some of the old guys back, as the new guys didn't have the proper experience or skills to run the plants properly.
So egg on face for Willy Wonka, more money spent, and now these days after the rumour mill has settled the factory is still here, and churning out much more than they ever expected.
Rumour mill, don't always give out facts!
PS Willy Wonka is Swiss, and he took over a very 'local firm' many many years ago. Only the name has gone. Unless on French exports.
speedplay
10-02-10, 10:56 AM
3 directors have gone here this week, followed by 30 senior management in the next month and then 120 middle management in the next 6 months.
Payroll is being binned and taken over by their american side, distribution is being scaled down due to duplications throughout the country.
Not a rumour, straight from the board this morning :(
punyXpress
10-02-10, 11:29 AM
You should see what the atmosphere is like here at cadbury bournville...
Awash with the brown stuff, I'd imagine.
They pulled a similar stunt in York with Terrys :
re: Chocolate orange
" On 30 September 2005 the former Terry's (http://forums.sv650.org/wiki/Terry%27s) Factory in York (http://forums.sv650.org/wiki/York) closed its doors for the last time with the loss of 350 jobs, with production moving out of York (http://forums.sv650.org/wiki/York) and the UK for the first time to existing Kraft Foods facilities in Sweden (http://forums.sv650.org/wiki/Sweden), Belgium (http://forums.sv650.org/wiki/Belgium), Poland (http://forums.sv650.org/wiki/Poland) and Slovakia (http://forums.sv650.org/wiki/Slovakia)."
At least Kraft make the nuts & bolts for SVs.
metalangel
10-02-10, 03:42 PM
Don't forget HP sauce, made in the Netherlands.
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