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| Cadbury to invest £75m at Bournville headquarters | Cadbury to invest £75m at Bournville headquarters |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Birmingham-based chocolate maker Cadbury has announced a £75m investment in its Bournville headquarters. | Birmingham-based chocolate maker Cadbury has announced a £75m investment in its Bournville headquarters. |
| The money will be released over three years and is expected to secure the future of the site. | The money will be released over three years and is expected to secure the future of the site. |
| A spokesman said the investment would bring four new production lines to the Bournville plant, which opened in 1879. | |
| The Unite trade union said it was unclear what effect it would have on jobs, but that it would allow the plant to compete with its rivals. | |
| The business was taken over by American food giant Kraft in 2010. | The business was taken over by American food giant Kraft in 2010. |
| The Bournville factory currently produces some of the firm's most popular chocolate bars, including Dairy Milk, Creme Eggs and Wispas. | The Bournville factory currently produces some of the firm's most popular chocolate bars, including Dairy Milk, Creme Eggs and Wispas. |
| 'Seminal moment' | |
| Tony Bilsborough, a spokesman for Cadbury's parent company Mondelez, said it was "difficult to say" whether the investment would lead to new products. | Tony Bilsborough, a spokesman for Cadbury's parent company Mondelez, said it was "difficult to say" whether the investment would lead to new products. |
| He said: "We will be looking to grow manufacturing volumes and to have the capabilities to introduce new products. | He said: "We will be looking to grow manufacturing volumes and to have the capabilities to introduce new products. |
| "This is all subject to ongoing consultations with the workforce". | "This is all subject to ongoing consultations with the workforce". |
| Joe Clarke, regional industrial officer for Unite, said the investment was "desperately needed". | |
| "Some of the plant and equipment is more than 30 years old and we haven't been able to compete with other manufacturers within the group," he added. | |
| Mr Clarke said the investment would increase efficiency and "open the door" to bidding for new products. | |
| He likened the investment to that of another local manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover, which has announced increased production levels. | |
| "At least we've got an opportunity to secure the future of the site," Mr Clarke added. | |
| The Bournville plant also includes the company's chocolate research and development site, which works on the creation of new chocolate bars. | The Bournville plant also includes the company's chocolate research and development site, which works on the creation of new chocolate bars. |
| The company said the investment would include replacing out-of-date production lines and opening new ones. | |
| The factory currently employs about 960 workers. | The factory currently employs about 960 workers. |
| Tim Pile, president of Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, said the investment marked a "seminal moment" for Bournville. | Tim Pile, president of Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, said the investment marked a "seminal moment" for Bournville. |
| "Like other parts of British manufacturing there is a productivity gap in Bournville that needs closing in order for Bournville to compete with the best in the world," he added. | "Like other parts of British manufacturing there is a productivity gap in Bournville that needs closing in order for Bournville to compete with the best in the world," he added. |