Cereal Partners Worldwide plans to shut down its UK factory
The company said a significant decline in breakfast cereal sales in the UK and Ireland had put the future of the site in Bromborough in jeopardy.
UK – Cereal Partners Worldwide, the breakfast-cereal venture between Nestlé and General Mills, is considering the closure of a factory in the UK.
Under the plans currently under consultation, the company would shift the production of branded cereals to a facility in Staverton, Wiltshire, in south-west England. They plan to invest £74 million (US$96.1 million) at the new site, which is expected to create around 60 new jobs.
Additionally, Cereal Partners Worldwide is considering ending its production of supermarket-branded cereals once current contracts expire.
A spokesperson for Cereal Partners Worldwide indicated that the proposed closure could put 314 jobs at risk at the Bromborough factory.
“These proposals would adjust Cereal Partners United Kingdom and Ireland’s manufacturing footprint to better align with demand and simplify our portfolio to focus investment on our branded cereals,” the spokesperson said.
They further explained that the decline in breakfast cereal sales is due to changing consumer habits in the UK and Ireland, along with increasing competition from alternative breakfast options.
Cereal Partners Worldwide expressed openness to alternative solutions, which may include the potential sale of the Bromborough site and/or the manufacturing of supermarket-branded cereals.
The spokesperson added that CPUK&I regrets the potential impact on employees, and their immediate priority is to work together to review the proposals while supporting people through this process with care and sensitivity.
“Three hundred skilled workers facing an uncertain future is simply unacceptable. GMB will fight to protect jobs, secure fair treatment for workers, and explore all potential options to mitigate the impact of this closure. We demand urgent talks with management and call on the company to engage with us to ensure that workers’ voices are heard and livelihoods are prioritized,” Matt Denton, a regional organizer at the trade union GMB said.
This announcement follows the recent closure of another cereal factory operated by Kellogg’s last year. After 86 years of operation, the Kellogg’s factory in Trafford Park, Greater Manchester, is set to shut down in 2026, resulting in a loss of 360 jobs.
Kellanova, which oversees Kellogg’s, announced this closure after three months of discussions with union and employee representatives, citing the factory’s age and the large amount of redundant space as key factors in their decision.
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