After seeing a “substantial decline” in consumers, a chocolate plant that was previously home to Cadbury has closed, resulting in the loss of 62 employees.
Barry Callebaut, a Swiss chocolate maker, announced it has decided to close its Moreton, Wirral, facility because it could no longer meet operating costs.
Since the business announced a consultation in April, its future has been in doubt.
Unite, the employees’ union, said it was unable to find a suitable alternative and called it a “very sad day” for them.
The corporation stated that the decision was not made lightly and praised staff for their commitment and hard work.
The facility was purchased from Burton’s Biscuit Company in 2018 by the Swiss business, which is one of the world’s largest chocolate producers.
Burton’s, which is famed for its Wagon Wheels, Jammie Dodgers, and Maryland Cookies, has signed a long-term arrangement with the company to deliver more than 12,000 tonnes of chocolate every year.
At the facility, there were 45 regular staff and 19 temporary workers.
Two staff have been transferred to the Chester location of the firm.
“We have made the tough choice to close the facility on May 31,” a Barry Callebaut spokeswoman stated after a consultation process.
“This is not a decision that has been made lightly, and it has been reached after exhausting all other options to better balance production capacity and demand in the United Kingdom,” he added.
“We’d want to express our gratitude to all of our staff for their commitment and hard work throughout the years.”
Many of the workers had “spent their whole working lives” at the facility, according to Unite’s Franny Joyce, who characterized them as a “highly devoted and talented staff.”
“Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, we were unable to find a suitable alternative to the company’s proposed closure,” she stated.
Ms Joyce went on to say that the site’s “high energy and administrative expenses,” as well as the lack of investment, “made it impossible” for the union to achieve a better result.
