Cadbury Schweppes is to axe up to 7,500 jobs and close 10 factories around the globe in a cost reduction programme over the next four years.
The UK confectionery group said it will cut its current confectionery workforce of 50,000 and 70 factories by 15% between 2008 and 2011, in an effort which is expected to result in savings of about £300m.
The group is currently in the process of offloading its US soft drinks division, according to chief executive Todd Stitzer. On completion of a sale, the business will be renamed Cadbury.
Cadbury Schweppes refused to say whether any the UK plants would be affected.
A spokeswoman told Personnel Today: “We cannot provide any further details until we have discussed the plans with our staff and union representatives.”
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Earlier this month, rumours of Cadbury slashing UK jobs as part of a £300m cost-cutting drive were rubbished by the Transport and General Workers (T&G) section of the Unite super union.
The company will also shift its headquarters from Mayfair in central London to Uxbridge, next year.
