Nestlé is to close the factory in Castleford that makes its After Eight mints.

Production will switch to facilities in Halifax, where the company’s Quality Street chocolates are made, and Hamburg.

The Castleford plant currently employs 210 people. Nestlé said it planned to retain as many of the staff as possible ahead of the planned closure in December 2012.

“Nestlé Confectionery is performing well in a very tough market but we have to continue to operate as efficiently as possible to remain competitive,” said David Rennie, the UK managing director of Nestlé Confectionery.

“Our aim is to offer our people alternative jobs with Nestlé and we hope that as many of them as possible will stay with the company.”

The Castleford plant makes one billion After Eight mints every year.

Read more
Nestlé queues up to complete Quorn swoop (3 December 2010)
Nestlé reveals extensive Christmas NPD line-up (31 July 2010)