Global flavour supplier Givaudan is moving most of its current savoury flavour production from the UK and Switzerland to a new plant in Hungary in an investment it predicts will streamline its production in Europe and increase its capacity by 50%.
As a result of the move, more than 150 jobs will be lost at Givaudan’s factory in Bromborough, Merseyside by the end of 2013.
The factory makes two flavours for Walkers Crisps: Prawn Cocktail with Vale of Evesham Tomatoes and Sour Cream with Chives.
A spokeswoman for Givaudan told FoodManufacture.co.uk: “In December 2010, following a three-month consultation period with unions and staff, we confirmed our intention to move our savoury manufacturing activity to a major new plant to be built in Mako, Hungary. Our Bromborough site has remained fully operational during the transition period, delivering high-quality products to our customers.
Loss of around 150 manufacturing roles
“As we communicated back in 2010, the move will result in the loss of around 150 manufacturing jobs in Bromborough during the course of 2013. The remaining 24 roles will transfer to other sites, including some in the UK.
Unite the union steward Kevin Berry told FoodManufacture.co.uk: “The situation’s very bad for work locally because there’s been a massive decline in manufacturing in the Wirral area. We lost a couple of food companies last year – Burton Foods and Cadbury.”
British ingredients such as Vale of Evesham tomatoes will now be transported to Givaudan’s Hungary site to be manufactured into flavours. These will then be transported from Hungary to Walkers’ crisp factory in the UK.
British-grown ingredients
Last month (February) Walkers announced that it would be introducing British-grown ingredients to flavour its core range of crisps including Cheddar from Somerset, Tomatoes from the Vale of Evesham, and Salt from Cheshire and sour cream from Dorset.
The crisp manufacturer’s “biggest innovation behind the product range for 10 years” was supported by this month’s (March’s) TV campaign in which football TV presenter Gary Lineker celebrates British ingredients as the stars of the Walkers brand. The redesigned packs also feature a Union Jack potato stamp to reinforce the British provenance of the potatoes used to manufacture the crisps.
Announcing the redesign, Walkers senior marketing manager Marianne McGoldrick said: “By making our flavours even more irresistible with delicious home-grown British ingredients and communicating it on pack, on TV and through social media, we are confident we are creating a significant sales opportunity for retailers. Walkers is a trusted British brand, renowned for flavour innovation.”