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Coca-Cola to close Milton Keynes and Northampton sites Coca-Cola to close Milton Keynes and Northampton sites
(35 minutes later)
Soft drinks giant Coca-Cola has confirmed it is moving forward with plans to close two UK sites, costing almost 300 jobs. Soft drinks giant Coca-Cola has confirmed it is moving forward with plans to close two UK sites, risking almost 300 jobs.
The US firm is to close its plant in Milton Keynes, which employs 234 people, and a distribution centre in Northampton, shedding 54 jobs. The US firm is to close its plant in Milton Keynes, which employs 220 people, and a distribution centre in Northampton, shedding 54 jobs.
It said it has consulted workers for the past two months and the closures would provide greater efficiency.It said it has consulted workers for the past two months and the closures would provide greater efficiency.
But 121 new roles will be created elsewhere, it said. But Unite said there was no "convincing business case" made for the move.
A Coca-Cola European Partners spokesman said they "want to stress" it was not a reflection on those employees at the sites. The union's regional officer Sally Mortimer said she wanted Coca-Cola to have an "urgent rethink and not to jettison the hard-working workforces at these two sites".
The company said it would offer "training and development opportunities" for affected employees. A Coca-Cola European Partners spokesman said they "want to stress" the move was not a reflection on employees at the sites.
'Maximum support' to workers
The company said it would offer "training and development opportunities" for affected employees and that 121 new roles will be created elsewhere.
Production and warehousing will be transferred to other sites in Great Britain, it said.Production and warehousing will be transferred to other sites in Great Britain, it said.
The plant at Milton Keynes, which was established in 1976, has nine manufacturing lines and produces 60 million cases of soft drinks a year. Coca-Cola employs 4,000 people in Great Britain and has six manufacturing centres - a figure which includes Milton Keynes.
It employs 450 people at its largest plant, in Wakefield.
The Milton Keynes site, which was established in 1976, has nine manufacturing lines and produces 60 million cases of soft drinks a year.
Meanwhile, the Northampton distribution centre opened in 1993 and is operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.Meanwhile, the Northampton distribution centre opened in 1993 and is operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Ms Mortimer, from Unite, added: "We will be exploring with the company the redeployment opportunities that it has offered today, so as many workers as possible find new jobs within Coca-Cola.
"As a union, we will be giving our members maximum support during this very difficult time for them."