Following a consultation process with Trade Unions and employees, we have confirmed the closure of our Warrington factory, where we make washing powder. We appreciate that this is difficult news for our 116 employees at the site, and we will do everything we can to support them at this time. Unilever has agreed not to make any redundancies before the end of January next year and will put in place a comprehensive package of support to help employees find other work opportunities.
Over recent years, there has been a sustained and irreversible decline in demand for washing powder, as consumers increasingly switch to other types of laundry product, particularly laundry liquids and laundry capsules. Having conducted a review of the options, Unilever was unfortunately unable to find a commercially sustainable alternative to closing the site.
Jon Strachan, Vice President Supply Chain in the UK & Ireland says, “It has been a very difficult decision to close the site, and I am very mindful of what this means for our employees and their families. I would like to thank them for their hard work and commitment to the Warrington factory over many years, and we will do everything we can to support them over the coming weeks and months, particularly with redeployment opportunities where this is possible.”