Walkers closes one plant and opens another
PepsiCo is closing the Walkers crisps factory in Swansea after 50 years at the south Wales site, which was formerly owned by Smiths Crisps. It has also announced a new factory to open at Skelmersdale, Lancashire in March 2006.
All 250 workers will lose their jobs in Swansea, but will be offered alternative posts at the group’s other UK plants. The new factory in Skelmersdale will create around 100 jobs.
Walkers said the Skelmersdale plant was closer to its distribution centres and transferring work there would help the company to cut costs. Martin Glenn,
president of PepsiCo UK, said,“We are always looking for new opportunities to make our business as cost effective as possible, particularly in today’s increasingly competitive environment.
“The production of snacks at the new Skelmersdale plant will help us to make long term cost savings and, being close to our distribution centres, make us more
efficient in delivering our products to the retailers.
