Unilever France could axe 153 posts at its HQ in Rueil-Malmaison, in the Paris suburbs, as it looks to strip costs out of its business.
“It is imperative that we streamline our organisation and reduce running costs in order to give maximum support to our brands,” said Unilever France president Claudio Colzani.
The company underlined that “there could be significantly fewer” redundancies when new posts and vacant non-fixed term contracts are taken into account. However, union sources put the number of posts to be created at 17 and estimate the “net” loss at 136.
“This is the seventh job cuts programme since 2005 and including the 153 losses in the pipeline, Unilever France’s HQ will have shed 700 posts in five years,” a union official claimed.
This latest round of cutbacks, to be implemented from 1 January next year, will see posts shed “in all services and staff grades” at the company’s HQ, including accounts, legal, human resources, IT and sales.
“Retailers are determined more than ever to develop attractive own brand offerings and which are in direct competition with national brands, the result being the erosion of our markets,” Unilever added.
Additionally, Unilever-owned French condiments maker Amora-Maille remains on track to close its plant in Dijon later this month.
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