Smarties will be made in Bulgaria and Fruit Pastilles in the Czech Republic under plans by Nestlé to close a factory near Newcastle.
The GMB trade union said the site at Fawdon, which has been making chocolate since 1958, was profitable and that plans to shift confectionery production offshore from 2023 – with the loss of 475 jobs – were “unacceptable”.
“This will have a devastating impact on workers and their families,” said Ross Murdoch, a GMB national officer.
“Meanwhile, transporting finished products from sites in Europe back to the UK – where they are consumed – will result in significant additional road and sea miles, increasing pollution and environmental damage.
“GMB and Unite will now speak to members in Fawdon and find out what they want to do next. We will give them whatever support and resources they need to fight this.”
Under Nestlé’s proposals, Fruit Pastilles, Randoms and Jelly Tots will be made in the Czech Republic and Toffee Crisp bars will be made in Poland, while Mini Eggs and Smarties will be made in Bulgaria.
GMB said it had presented alternative plans drawn up by independent experts but they had been rejected by Nestlé.
Boris Johnson was urged last year to intervene to save the Fawdon site, which began producing chocolate in 1958 for Rowntree. The British confectionery company was bought by Swiss-based Nestlé in 1988.
Nestlé has previously said that brands produced in Fawdon were smaller and “low-growth” and that it would invest £29m in factories in York and Halifax that manufacture bigger brands.
“We do not underestimate the impact that the closure of Fawdon factory would have on the local area and, as part of the consultation, we want to work with the local community to find ways that we can support the area and our employees if these proposals were to go ahead,” the company said last year.
The Guardian has contacted Nestlé for comment on the confirmation of its plans to close Fawdon.
