Unilever is not looking to make further cutbacks in France, the consumer goods giant told just-food today (15 November).
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Unilever, which has already cut 200 French jobs this year, is to further rationalize its operations in the country with a streamlining of its Cogesal-Miko business in the town of St Dizier.
The announcement of the restructuring also comes just a week after Unilever sold its French cheese brand Boursin to local cheese maker Le Groupe Bel.
“This is the only project we are talking about. We have done quite a lot already,” a spokesperson for Unilever France told just-food. “This project is a very important initiative in giving St Dizier a chance.”
The cutbacks at Unilever’s St. Dizier site will see the facility stop producing “uncompetitive” products, including Cornetto, manual cups and bakery products.
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By GlobalDataProduction will focus on more buoyant brands including Carte d’Or and Frusi, which are enjoying rising sales in France. Some 254 jobs will be affected.
The spokesperson said that a growing trend towards “wellness” in France had led Unilever to revamp its local ice cream business.
French consumers, the spokesperson said, are increasingly looking for products that improve their “vitality”.
“Consumers are caring more about their wellness and looking for products of low fat, low sugar and so on,” she added.
Unilever said it plans to inject an extra EUR4m (US$5.9m) into the business as it switches focus.
