LONDON (AP) — Chocolate maker Cadbury said Wednesday it will close a factory and cut 700 jobs in Britain as part of cost-cutting moves that will see some production switch to Poland.
Cadbury will close a factory employing 500 people at Keynsham, southwest England, in phases in 2009 and 2010. Cadbury also will shift 200 jobs from another British plant to one in Poland, the Cadbury division of Cadbury Schweppes PLC said in a statement.
Production from the Keynsham factory is to be transferred to its plants in Poland and Birmingham, central England, the company said.
''In order to continue to grow and remain competitive in the future we need to operate more effectively and reduce costs,'' the statement said.
Cadbury said 40 million pounds (US$80 million) will be spent on upgrading the Bournville plant in Birmingham to increase output but 200 jobs will still be transferred to Poland between 2008 and 2010.
