Over 60 jobs at risk as Barry Callebaut announces plan to close UK factory

The Wirral factory employs 45 permanent staff and 19 agency workers – but the decision comes from the company after saying in a statement that “there has been a significant decrease in customer requirements and volume at Moreton and due to the equipment and operational restrictions, the site cannot meet the operational costs needed to ensure the correct economies of scale​”.

Barry Callebaut is one of the world’s largest suppliers of premium Belgium chocolate and operates in over 30 countries. In the UK, the group has operations in Chester and Banbury with approximately 370 staff.

A spokesperson for Barry Callebaut said: “As part of Barry Callebaut’s strategy to continuously improve its operational efficiency and to better balance production capacity and demand in the UK, the Group has started a consultation process on the potential closure of its chocolate factory in Moreton. This is not a course of action that has been taken lightly. Barry Callebaut​ has strong foundations for growth and the UK will remain a key market for future investment.​

“We understand that this will be a concerning time for all those that will be affected by this announcement and their families, and we will be supporting them through this difficult period.”​