Broken promise as Kraft sells axed Cadbury factory for homes

By
Mail On Sunday Reporter

Last updated at 1:00 AM on 8th January 2012


Kraft boss Irene Rosenfeld promised to save the building

Kraft boss Irene Rosenfeld promised to save the building

The factory that US food giant Kraft pledged to keep open during its bitter takeover of Cadbury, but then closed after clinching the deal, has been sold.

The Somerdale plant in Keynsham near Bristol, which produced its final bar of chocolate a year ago, is expected to be turned into a housing estate by Taylor Wimpey in a £35 million deal.

The 220-acre site could accommodate 700 homes, a  hotel, a school, and commercial premises, though planning permission is not finalised.

The plant was at the centre of  a storm following Kraft’s £11.9 billion hostile takeover of the much-loved British company nearly two years ago.

Kraft boss Irene Rosenfeld promised to save it, but a week after completing the deal she provoked fury by announcing production would move to Poland, with the loss of 400 jobs.

More than 22,000 Mail on Sunday readers had supported a campaign to ‘Keep Cadbury British’.

The Somerdale factory made favourites such as Curly Wurlys, Crunchies and Double Decker bars.

A Kraft spokesman said: ‘We can confirm we have reached agreement with Taylor Wimpey for the sale and development of our Somerdale site.’

The Somerdale plant in Keynsham near Bristol is expected to be turned into a housing estate by Taylor Wimpey in a £35¿million deal

The Somerdale plant in Keynsham near Bristol is expected to be turned into a housing estate by Taylor Wimpey in a £35¿million deal

 

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