April – Nestlé’s Poland move: ‘first of many Brexit transfers’
Nestlé UK’s plan to move its Blue Riband production to Poland is “absolutely the tip of the Brexit iceberg”, representing the first in a long line of businesses considering relocation to eastern Europe, an industry expert told this website.
“I suspect that this could be first in a long line of businesses looking to produce in eastern Europe, where availability of labour and employment costs are more attractive,” the source told FoodManufacture.co.uk.
“This is all about cost of manufacture and availability of labour, and this absolutely is the tip of the Brexit iceberg. We have to recognise that Nestlé is a global multinational and to them producing in Poland is no different to producing in the UK, except it’s cheaper.”
The comments came after Nestlé revealed plans to cut nearly 300 jobs and move its iconic Blue Riband production to Poland after 81 years in the UK. The manufacturer planned to standardise shift patterns at factories in York, Fawdon, Halifax and Girvan.
