Sad Day for Keynsham

Thursday, 11 February 2010

Bristol’s Green Party expressed its great sadness Wednesday that Kraft had indeed decided to close the former Cadbury factory in Keynsham, resulting in the loss of 400 jobs.

“We would like to express our solidarity with the workers at Keynsham as they face a very uncertain future,” a statement from the party’s four prospective parliamentary candidates said.

US-based Kraft Foods Inc launched a hostile takeover bid for Cadbury last autumn. The UK chocolate manufacturer finally caved in and handed over control of its operations for almost £12 billion last month.

Cadbury had already announced that it was shifting production from Keynsham to eastern Europe before Kraft took control.

“We deplore Kraft’s decision to close a successful factory and urge them to reconsider the former owner Cadbury’s plan to shift production to Poland.

“There are fully trained, hard-working people in Keynsham who have given years to the company.

“It is a kick in the teeth to tell them they are no more than an expense.

“You are dealing with people’s lives and the heart of a community, not numbers on a page.”

Kraft’s announcement marks the end of Cadbury’s local presence stretching back over nine decades. Cadbury had been producing confectionery in the Bristol area since 1919 when it merged with the city’s own JS Fry and Sons.

The Green Party commended the work of North East Somerset MP Dan Norris, who met with Keynsham employees today and who intends to continue fighting for them with Kraft’s bosses and government ministers.

Alex Dunn Green Party Candidate for Bristol North West and also Marketing Director for the North Somerset Cricket League said "There are fewer and fewer pitches that clubs can hire in this area and if the four cricket pitches at Frys are lost, along with the excellent Sports and Social Club, this will be another blow to sports and the social scene in the area".