Kellogg's Trafford Park plant closure plan puts 360 jobs at risk

Hundreds of jobs are at risk at a Kellogg's plant that is earmarked to close.

Kellanova, which owns the Greater Manchester Trafford Park plant, said the company could not see a "long-term future" for it.

There are about 360 jobs at the factory, which could be closed by 2026.

The Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (USDAW) described the planned closure as "devastating".

About one million boxes of cereals including Corn Flakes, Rice Krispies, and Coco Pops are made at the 1930s-built factory every day.

Kellanova managing director Chris Silcock said the layout of the site "made sense in the 1930s", but changes in industrial design meant "you just wouldn't lay out a factory like that nowadays".

"What's more we only use half the space in the buildings and the investment required to maintain the factory in the coming years is simply not viable," he added.

Cereal travels up and down six floors at the factory, which was opened by Kellanova's predecessor the Kellogg Company in 1938 across a 27-acre facility on Park Road.

Kellanova has started formal talks with factory staff and union representatives.

The talks are expected to last about three months.

"We know this will be difficult for many to hear", Mr Silcock said, adding the company would support staff "in the right way, should this change happen".

Kellanova, which also owns crisp brand Pringles, confirmed 520 jobs will remain at the company's MediaCity office.

The cereal factory at Wrexham and the firm's St Helens distribution centre will not be affected, the company said.

Stretford and Urmston MP Andrew Western said generations of local families had worked at the plant, and that he would hold talks with company bosses "in the sincere hope that they will reconsider closing this site".

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