More than 300 jobs at risk as Cheerios maker plans to shut Merseyside factory

The maker of Cheerios and Shreddies has unveiled plans to shut a factory in Merseyside which would put more than 300 jobs at risk of redundancy, as it warned over declining demand for breakfast cereal.

Cereal Partners UK and Ireland (CPUK&I) said it wants to move production of branded cereals from the Bromborough site to its factory in Staverton, Wiltshire.

Under the proposals, it will also stop making supermarket-own cereals and only produce branded products.

Sales of breakfast cereal are in “significant decline owing to the changing habits of UK and Irish consumers and greater competition from alternative breakfast options”, a spokesman for Cereal Partners said.

The changes would also involve £74 million being invested to expand the Staverton factory’s capability and create around 60 new roles.

The spokesman said: “CPUK&I regrets the potential impact on employees and the immediate priority is to work together to review the proposals while supporting people through this process with care and sensitivity.

“CPUK&I remains open to alternative solutions, including a potential sale of the Bromborough site and/or the supermarket branded cereal manufacturing itself.”

Matt Denton, regional organiser for trade union GMB, said: “For three decades, CPUK has been at the heart of this community, providing good jobs and supporting countless businesses.

“Three hundred skilled workers facing an uncertain future is simply unacceptable.

“GMB will fight to protect jobs, secure fair treatment for workers and explore all potential options to mitigate the impact of this closure.

“We demand urgent talks with management and call on the company to engage with us to make sure workers’ voices are heard, and livelihoods are prioritised.”