Unilever pushes ahead with restructuring UK operations

Anglo-Dutch multinational consumer goods company Unilever yesterday confirmed that it is pushing ahead with its restructuring plans for the UK by cutting 500 jobs with another 100 at risk and closing four plants.

''Following an extensive review, we have decided to move forward with proposals outlined in June,'' said Unilever UK & Ireland chairman Amanda Sourry.

The London and Rotterdam-based company will close by the end of next year the former Alberto Culver manufacturing and distribution sites in Swansea and Bridgend, and the former Sara Lee factory in Slough, which makes Radox and other bath and shower products.

Unilever will also close its distribution centre in Bridgend, which services its Swansea factory, and will use a new third-party facility in Deeside, North Wales, serving as the distribution centre for Port Sunlight.

It will also relocate some 400 high capability roles from its Ewloe IT site, 15 miles from Port Sunlight with a number of other jobs being outsourced to the company's IT centre in Bangalore.

Unilever will shift production to Port Sunlight, where Lord Lever first started producing soaps and detergents more than 100 years ago. The move will see Unilever investing £40 million and create about 150 new jobs at Port Sunlight.