Kellogg’s proposes closure of Manchester site

Kellogg’s has announced that they propose to close their iconic Manchester site, based in Trafford Park.

There are about 360 jobs at the factory, and Kellanova, which owns Kellogg’s, said the plant could be closed by the end of 2026.

The company has started formal talks with factory staff and union representatives.

“This is devastating news for the staff to hear that the Kellogg’s manufacturing site in Manchester’s Trafford Park is being considered for closure. This iconic site opened in 1938 and was the first manufacturing base for Kellogg’s in Britain,” Mick Murray, area organiser of trade union Usdaw, said.

“Usdaw will now enter into meaningful consultation talks with the company, where we will interrogate their business case and seek the best possible outcome for staff impacted by the proposed closure. We are providing our members with the support, advice and representation at this difficult time.”

Kellanova UK managing director Chris Silcock said the factory is too old to modernise and that lots of the buildings at the site are already unused.

“We know generations of families have worked at our Trafford Park site, and the proposal we are announcing today has nothing to do with the dedication of the outstanding people who work there,” Silcock said.

“However, we can’t escape the fact the site opened in 1938.  It’s laid out in a way that made sense in the 1930s, with food travelling up and down six floors to be made.  With changes in industrial design and technology, you just wouldn’t lay out a factory like that nowadays.

“What’s more we only use half the space in the buildings and the investment required to maintain the factory in the coming years is simply not viable.

“That’s why we can’t currently see a long-term future for our Trafford Park factory.”