Union invites new Kraft boss to see former Cadbury chocolate factory

Senior managers from Kraft have been invited to the Somerdale chocolate factory in Keynsham on Wednesday after the company's £11.7 billion takeover of Cadbury.

Unite, the union representing some 400 workers left at the factory, asked for the meeting with shop stewards to try to get some commitment on saving jobs.

Cadbury had previously decided to close the factory in the autumn.

About 100 workers have already been made redundant, others have accepted redundancy packages but many do not want to lose their jobs.

Kraft Foods made its first bid for Cadbury in September last year, promising to keep the Somerdale plant open and subsequently reiterated the pledge during the takeover campaign which was eventually successful on Tuesday.

Unite national officer Jennie Formby said in a letter to Cadbury workers: "You will all be aware that now Kraft has taken over, Unite is pushing very hard to make them keep their promises about Somerdale.

"I have arranged to come to Somerdale on February 10 to meet shop stewards, and to see the site and I look forward to seeing any of you who may be on shift at that time.

"I have also written to Irene Rosenfeld, CEO and chairman of Kraft, to invite them to send management representatives to meet me and your steward committee so that they can listen to our views and get a clearer understanding of all the issues.

"We're not fighting to stop all redundancies, but to protect those who need to stay.

"We know that following the initial shock over two years ago, many of you have now made plans and would not want your redundancy to be overturned.

"I have told Kraft since September that we must allow those who want to go to leave, and that our priority is to protect those who cannot afford to lose their jobs. I also do not want to give anyone false hopes. It will clearly be an uphill struggle to keep Somerdale open, although Kraft has no excuses to use as from the beginning I have been clear about the timelines involved, the fact that there are many people committed to leaving, that some lines have already transferred to other sites and that the fabric of the building is pretty old."

Investors holding 71.7 per cent of Cadbury's shares backed the takeover last week.

Cadbury chairman Roger Carr, chief executive Todd Stitzer and chief financial officer Andrew Bonfield have all announced they are stepping down after Kraft's successful bid.