Kraft Foods is reportedly facing a fresh probe over its decision to close Cadbury’s Somerdale chocolate factory in the south-west of England.
During the takeover battle for UK confectioner Cadbury, Kraft had said that it believed the factory – which Cadbury had planned to shutter – could be kept open.
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However, shortly after the US firm had secured ownership of Cadbury, it announced that the site would be closed and production would be moved to Poland, in line with Cadbury’s plans.
The announcement that the site would be closed has attracted widespread criticism, with MPs interviewing the company over the decision last month.
According to a report by the BBC, the UK’s Takeover Panel has now launched an investigation into the move after it received a complaint.
Amoree Radford, who leads a campaign to preserve Keynsham’s chocolate factory, told the BBC she had complained to the regulator along with the local Conservative Party candidate, Jacob Rees-Mogg.
“We know we can’t get the jobs back, but we want the authorities to learn their lessons so it doesn’t happen to another company later,” she said.
The news comes on the same day that Cadbury shares were delisted from the London Stock Exchange and Cadbury ADSs were delisted in New York.
Both Kraft and the Takeover Panel declined to comment on the reports when contacted by just-food.
