The restructuring events database contains factsheets with data on large-scale restructuring events reported in the principal national media and company websites in each EU Member State. This database was created in 2002.
Manufacturing Manufacture Of Food And Beverage Manufacture Of Food Products 10.5 - Manufacture of dairy products
164 jobs Number of planned job losses
Announcement Date
14 May 2007
Employment effect (start)
Foreseen end date
1 November 2007
Description
Dairy Crest is to close its milk depot in Totnes in Devon, with the loss of 164 jobs. The company said it was impossible to expand and modernise on the site at Station Yard. Production at the plant, which opened in 1934, would be transferred to Gloucestershire and East London.
The Transport and General Workers' Union (T&G) reacted angrily to the closure, which is expected to be complete by November at a cost of 3 million GBP. Dairy Crest, which bought the plant from Unigate in 2000, said it was likely all 164 employees would lose their jobs and accepted relocation would be very difficult.
Company spokeswoman Sinead Noble said: 'If we were going to keep it we would have to modernise it and make it bigger and better but we can't because the plant is effectively landlocked between the railway station and housing.'
The T&G said the announcement was a 'devastating blow'
Spokesman Dave Springbett said: 'Dairy Crest is probably the biggest single employer in Totnes. This closure will be a huge blow to the town. We have nearly 150 members there. We cannot let this closure plan go unchallenged.'
Sources
14 May 2007: BBC Website
Citation
Eurofound (2007), Dairy Crest, Relocation in United Kingdom, factsheet number 65360, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/65360.
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