A spokesperson for Barry Callebaut said: “Following a consultation process at Barry Callebaut’s chocolate factory in Moreton, we have made the difficult decision to close the factory on 31st May. This is not a course of action that has been taken lightly and comes after exploring all alternatives to better balance production capacity and demand in the UK. We would like to thank all our employees for their dedication and hard work over the years.”
Barry Callebaut acquired the site in 2018 from Burton’s Biscuit Company. Previously it belonged to Cadbury's.
The spokesperson told ConfectioneryNews that due to a significant decrease in volume at Moreton, along with equipment and operational restrictions, the site could not meet the operational costs needed to ensure the correct economies of scale.
“This decision ensures that Barry Callebaut can operate profitably and compete in the marketplace of the future.”
Barry Callebaut said that during the consultation period after it announced the impending closure in April it would consider alternatives to compulsory redundancies for the 45 permanent employees at the site. The company also employed 19 agency workers.