Kellogg’s has announced it will close down its famous Greater Manchester Factory after 90 years, axing 360 jobs.
Earlier this year, Kellanova, the owners of Kellogg’s, announced it was exploring closing the factory.
Today, however, the firm said ‘changes in industrial design and technology’ means the company could no longer ‘see a long-term future for our Trafford Park factory’.
It also added that the facility’s age meant it was ‘laid out in a way that made sense in the 1930s’ but not today.
The famous factory makes popular cereal brands including Corn Flakes, Rice Krispies and Coco Pops, and just last year King Charles visited the site.
The Kellogg’s factory in Trafford Park, Greater Manchester, has been operating since 1938. Kellanova, the owners of Kellogg’s, has today decided to close it
King Charles visited the site in January 2023. During the visit, staff said they spoke to the monarch about sustainability, as well as the company’s breakfast club programme that helps feed hungry children in schools
The world famous factory operates 24 hours a day and makes a million boxes of cereal daily. The site is also the largest cereal factory in Europe and Corn Flakes factory in the world
Kellanova has said in the past that Greater Manchester ‘would remain its British home’.
The famous site operates 24 hours a day and makes a million boxes of cereal daily. It is also the largest cereal factory in Europe and Corn Flakes factory in the world.
Kellanova’s UK managing director, Chris Silcock, said in February: ‘We know generations of families have worked at our Trafford Park site, and the proposal we are announcing today has nothing to do with the dedication of the outstanding people who work there.
‘However, we can’t escape the fact the site opened in 1938. It’s laid out in a way that made sense in the 1930s, with food travelling up and down six floors to be made. With changes in industrial design and technology, you just wouldn’t lay out a factory like that nowadays.
‘What’s more we only use half the space in the buildings and the investment required to maintain the factory in the coming years is simply not viable. That’s why we can’t currently see a long-term future for our Trafford Park factory.
‘We know this will be difficult for many to hear and that’s why we now want to focus on our people. We will take the necessary time to discuss our proposals with our people and their representatives and show them how we will support them in the right way should this change happen.’
Andrew Western, who is the MP for Stretford and Urmston which includes the Kellogg’s factory, also said at the time: ‘This would be a devastating loss to the people of Stretford and Urmston.
‘Kellogg’s has a long and proud history in the constituency and the site in Trafford Park has been an iconic part of our community for decades – with generations of local families working there.
‘My first thoughts are with the staff that are affected by these deeply worrying proposals and I will reach out to the trade unions that represent them to offer any support that I can.
Andrew Western, who is the MP for Stretford and Urmston which includes the Kellogg’s factory, said: ‘This would be a devastating loss to the people of Stretford and Urmston’
During the Second World War the factory made up their own Kellogg’s Unit in the Home Guard to protect the site and an ambulance team was also started as the site was bombed during the Blitz
Kellanova’s UK managing director, Chris Silcock, previously said: ‘We can’t escape the fact the site opened in 1938. It’s laid out in a way that made sense in the 1930s… you just wouldn’t lay out a factory like that nowadays’
‘There is now going to be a consultation process and I will remain in conversation with Kellogg’s in the sincere hope that they will reconsider closing this site.’
During the Second World War the factory made up their own Kellogg’s Unit in the Home Guard to protect the site and an ambulance team was also started as the site was bombed during the Blitz.
Later decades at the Trafford Park factory have seen new cereals invented including Crunchy Nut Cornflakes in 1980.
The Trafford Park factory had a special visit from King Charles just over a year ago, in January 2023.
During the visit, staff said they spoke to the monarch about sustainability, as well as the company’s breakfast club programme that helps feed hungry children in schools.
Kellogg’s parent Kellanova employs more than 1,200 people across the UK. The company renamed itself Kellanova in October 2023 after a restructure at what was the Kellogg Company.
Globally, Kellanova owns brands including Pringles, PopTarts and Cheez-It.