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Sunlight Jobs Assured

Unilever is keen to allay fears that jobs will be lost at its Port Sunlight plant after announcing that it is planning to shed 8000 jobs and close 30 plants over the coming 12 monthsThe losses are central to the five-year Path to Growth strategy which aims to reduce personel by 25000 coming as part of the company's rationalisation programme to help the company absorb its £14.2 billion acquisition of American giant Bestfoods.

Debbie Smith, responsible for external realtions at Wirral's research facility said: ' The losses will not be affecting Port Sunlight. They will be affecting the food areas of the business.'Unilever's business in Wirral now has two separate parts, Lever Faberge's home and personal care and Unilever's research facility, with the former operating from the original Port Sunlight factory.Ms Smith added: "Lever Faberge and Unilever Research operate independently of other parts of the company'.

This is further confirmed by a Unilever spokesperson who said: 'Bestfoods was purchased last year with the sale being finalised in October. However in the middle of last year we identified areas where there would be likely savings in the Unilever food business worldwide and the job losses will come from where the businesses overlap. There is no food-based business at Port Sunlight and it will be unaffected.'In response to the news, Cllr Phil Davies , deputy leader of Wirral Council and cabinet member for economic regeneration, commented: 'We are obviously very relieved that the company has formally announced that there will be no impact on Wirral as it was something that were concerned about. It is good news that the area has escaped without any adverse effects on the company in the borough and I am pleased by the news.'The restructuring costs caused by the Bestfoods acquisition has also been partly blamed for a 38% drop in profits in the first period of this year but Unilever is confident that any lost ground can be regained.

(Article from Wirral News 09th May 2001)

	[ UNILEVER ] [ JOBS ASSURED ]
.	Sunlight Jobs Assured Unilever is keen to allay fears that jobs will be lost at its Port Sunlight plant after announcing that it is planning to shed 8000 jobs and close 30 plants over the coming 12 monthsThe losses are central to the five-year Path to Growth strategy which aims to reduce personel by 25000 coming as part of the company's rationalisation programme to help the company absorb its £14.2 billion acquisition of American giant Bestfoods. Debbie Smith, responsible for external realtions at Wirral's research facility said: ' The losses will not be affecting Port Sunlight. They will be affecting the food areas of the business.'Unilever's business in Wirral now has two separate parts, Lever Faberge's home and personal care and Unilever's research facility, with the former operating from the original Port Sunlight factory.Ms Smith added: "Lever Faberge and Unilever Research operate independently of other parts of the company'. This is further confirmed by a Unilever spokesperson who said: 'Bestfoods was purchased last year with the sale being finalised in October. However in the middle of last year we identified areas where there would be likely savings in the Unilever food business worldwide and the job losses will come from where the businesses overlap. There is no food-based business at Port Sunlight and it will be unaffected.'In response to the news, Cllr Phil Davies , deputy leader of Wirral Council and cabinet member for economic regeneration, commented: 'We are obviously very relieved that the company has formally announced that there will be no impact on Wirral as it was something that were concerned about. It is good news that the area has escaped without any adverse effects on the company in the borough and I am pleased by the news.'The restructuring costs caused by the Bestfoods acquisition has also been partly blamed for a 38% drop in profits in the first period of this year but Unilever is confident that any lost ground can be regained. (Article from Wirral News 09th May 2001)