Shock for workers as 60 jobs lost in closure of plant

A SOFT drinks plant in Cork is to close with the loss of 60 jobs, it was announced yesterday.

Britvic Ireland said it is transferring production from its manufacturing plant in the Courtstown Industrial Estate in Little Island, to its plant in Dublin.

That operation will get a €7.6 million investment to cater for the increased production.

The Cork jobs, which have been in Little Island since the 1980s, will go on a phased basis over the next 12 months, although some are expected to be shed next month.

It was the city’s second jobs blow this week.

Business management software firm Sage Ireland, based at the Eastgate Business Park in Little Island, announced plans on Tuesday to centralise its operations in Dublin with the loss of up to 20 jobs.

Staff at Britvic’s Cork plant, where Pepsi, Club Orange and 7-Up are made, reacted with shock.

Britvic took over the operation last year when it bought the soft drinks arm of C&C.

One staff member with more than 20 years’ service said the news came as a complete shock. “Some of us thought there may be rationalisation when Brtivic took over but this came out of the blue,” he said. “We were all thinking the worst before the meeting, but this is a complete shock,” another said.

One employee who is on his honeymoon could not be contacted by his colleagues.

In a letter to staff, Britvic’s managing director, Billy O’Regan, said the job losses are regrettable. They form part of a package that will assist the ongoing growth and development of the company which employs more than 900 people nationwide.

The consolidation will deliver significant economies of scale and he said the Cork plant’s production lines would have required heavy investment to meet future needs.

He acknowledged the “exemplary service” of the Cork staff and said talks will start soon on the phased transfer.

“As a management team we are committed to assisting our Cork staff in identifying alternative employment, and to providing appropriate outplacement support, as well as advice on pensions and financial planning.”

Britvic Ireland will maintain its regional distribution centre in Cork, its sales and merchandising operation and the Ballygowan water bottling facility in Newcastle West which combined employ about 200 people.