'We can't escape the fact the site opened in 1938

BOSS EXPLAINS WHY KELLOGG'S WORKERS HAVE BEEN HIT BY 'DEVASTATING' NEWS THAT PLANT MIGHT BE SHUT DOWN

- ALISTAIR HOUGHTON.

A GREATER Manchester landmark for more than 80 years, generations of families have worked at Kellogg's Trafford Park factory.

The shock news of its proposed closure has been described as 'devastating!

The careers of hundreds of workers were plunged into doubt yesterday as owner Kellanova announced it was considering the future of the site where Corn Flakes, Rice Krispies and Coco Pops are made, proposing it could close by the end of 2026.

It is thought 360 jobs would be at risk. One employee told the M.E.N.

that staff knew the closure 'could be on the cards, but that there was still a 'sense of shock' when the news broke.

They added: "The general feeling seems to be a sense of anger and betrayal after working for the company throughout the Covid period, when there was a great increase in cereal sales, helping to generate record profits for the company at the time - only to be told the news today that the site and workers are no longer required."

They said the Kellanova brand was 'built upon the work done' over the last 86 years in Greater Manchester and news of the company's recent performance which 'beat analysts' expectations' had 'rubbed salt in the wounds. The site, opened in 1938, was the first manufacturing base of the breakfast food manufacturer in the UK.

The union Usdaw represents production workers at the plant, and ta said it would now 'interrogate' the le company's business case for closure. re Represented workers are being ex offered urgent support and guidance as a period of consultation with Kellogg's begins, added the union.