Nestle plans to cut 450 jobs from UK sites

Nestle plans to cut 450 jobs from its sites in the UK, union GMB has said.

The food manufacturing firm, famous for producing confectionery including KitKats, Aero bars and Polos, 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" with at least 120 people affected there.

A Nestle spokesperson 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.

Nestle's factory on Haxby Road in York employs 2,000 people.

Confectionery brands including KitKat, Aero, Yorkie and Polo are manufactured at the site.

Ferguson said there were generations of families that had lived and worked at the York site.

She added: "We've got people whose fathers, grandfathers, sons, daughters, work at the site."

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."

She said the union would be "working closely with members and the company to ease the pain of these cuts as much as possible".

A Nestle spokesperson said the process was ongoing and added: "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."

The company also has factories in Halifax in West Yorkshire, Tutbury in Derbyshire, Dalston in Cumbria, and Staverton in Wiltshire.

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