Kraft Plans to Close Somerdale Factory

Kraft Foods announced plans to close the Somerdale Factory located in Keynsham, Somerset, which was previously part of Fry's. This decision was part of a broader strategy to streamline operations and reduce costs. The closure was expected to impact approximately 400 employees, who would lose their jobs as production was shifted to other facilities in Poland and other locations in England. The management indicated that the plans to relocate production were already well underway, making it impractical to reverse the decision. The Somerdale Factory had been a significant site for confectionery production, and its closure marked a notable shift in Kraft's operational strategy, reflecting the company's focus on efficiency and cost-effectiveness in a competitive market. The transition of production to other plants was part of a larger trend in the food industry, where companies increasingly sought to optimize their manufacturing processes by consolidating operations and leveraging lower labor costs in different regions.