The popular chocolate brand makes KitKats (Image: GETTY IMAGES)
The popular UK chocolate company, Nestle, could cut as many as 450 jobs across the UK, union GMB has said. The company is known for making several popular chocolate items such as KitKats, Aero bars and Polos.
It has two main sites in York and Gatwick as well as a number of other factories. Deanne Ferguson, senior organiser for GMB North East, said the impact in York would be “huge”. According to BBC, at least 120 people could be impacted there.
It comes after Nestle announced 16,000 job cuts worldwide in October last year.
Nestle makes several iconic chocolate items (Image: GETTY IMAGES)
Read more: Check if you have a stolen KitKat after thieves hijack lorry carrying 400k bars
Read more: Easter chocolate shortage warning issued after huge Nestle theft
The company has factories in Halifax in West Yorkshire, Tutbury in Derbyshire, Dalston in Cumbria, and Staverton in Wiltshire.
Nestle’s headquarters was moved to Gatwick from Croydon. It moved all employees based at its City Place office, which is located near Gatwick Airport, to a new site at Park House, Manor Royal BID from September 2023.
KitKats are made in York while is made in Nescafé is made in Derbyshire and Cumbria.
Quality Street, which is also produced by the brand, is made in Halifax.
A spokesperson for Nestle said it announced plans to “reduce our global workforce by 16,000 roles” last year and details of any changes would be shared with staff affected first.
Announcing the mass cull in October, Nestle said it needed to “change faster” and secure its future “as a leader in our industry”, reports The Mirror.
The reductions are expected to include around 12,000 “white-collar professionals” across business functions.
This was expected to save the company around one billion Swiss francs (£940 million) each year by the end of 2027.
The brand has already began making some cuts (Image: GETTY IMAGES)
Charlotte Brumpton-Childs, GMB National Secretary, said: “These job cuts will rip the heart out of communities.
“Nestle workers – who make some of the UK’s best loved treats – have already put up with years of uncertainty and job losses.”
The union will be working closely with members and the company to “ease the pain” as much as possible, Charlotte says.
A Nestle spokesperson said: “As always, we will manage any changes in the right way and in consultation with our people.
“Any proposed changes will always be shared with those affected first and we have no further update to give at this time.”