East Hull's ADM Cocoa facing closure

A HULL cocoa factory could close this summer with the loss of 86 jobs.

The company, ADM Cocoa, has confirmed a consultation process has begun with staff at its plant in Cleveland Street, east Hull.

Earlier this week, the company called a meeting with staff and union members to inform them of its plans for the future of the site.

A spokesman for ADM has told the Mail all employees had been told of a proposal to close the facility on July 1.

A month-long consultation period is underway.

The spokesman said the proposal was the result of an overcapacity in the cocoa processing market.

One staff member, who did not wish to be named, said he could not see why the US-based owners of ADM had chosen to close the Hull site as he understood it was making a profit.

He said: "We had all heard rumours, but we were not told anything until they had the big boys down from America.

"This site was making a profit, it was doing fine, they didn't need to close it. It's very sad."

Mike Wilkinson, regional industrial organiser for the union Unite, said members are concerned that they would not be able to find alternative employment in the current economic climate.

He said: "As one of the shop stewards pointed out, people have a wealth of experience in their particular line of work, but that is not transferable anywhere else."

Formerly owned by British Cocoa Mills, the factory has been producing a sweet smell of chocolate over the city since the 1950s.

The site produces cocoa butter and cocoa mass which is sold to chocolate and confectionery manufacturers for use in their products.

The ADM spokesman said the company would not make a final decision on the proposed closure until the end of the consultation process, adding: "We are committed to conducting meaningful consultation with employees and communicating the likely impact the proposed closure will have on each individual".