Britvic plc, who collectively employ approximately 3,500 people and globally sell some 1.9bn litres of soft drinks each year, have announced a range of restructuring proposals within their corporate organisation, aimed at achieving even greater operating efficiency. These measures include a proposal to separate the Britvic Ireland wholesaling business into a complete stand-alone entity, thus relocating their present supporting customer care activities.
Regrettably for Thurles Co Tipperary, these Customer Care activities will now transfer from the Tipperary Technology Park, Nenagh Road in the town to Dublin, offering redeployment opportunities.
Britvic plc have exclusive bottling agreements with PepsiCo in the UK and Ireland for global brands such as Pepsi, Mountain Dew Energy and 7UP and is one of Europe’s leading soft drinks companies, with an enviable portfolio of market leading brands, such as Robinsons, J2O, Fruit Shoot, Tango and Drench in GB, MiWadi, Club and Ballygowan in Ireland, and Teisseire, Fruité and Pressade in France.
Addressing shocked local employees in the past week, a Britvic spokesperson reiterated earlier statements: “Britvic remains fully committed to Ireland and to mitigating any job losses arising from this intended reorganisation and a consultation process with our Thurles based staff will commence immediately, with same aimed at maximizing redeployment opportunities.
Early reports this month had suggested that these changes, within the company, would see Britvic’s Ballygowan water become the only water brand supplied to the UK, replacing its other water brands, while production currently carried out in Britain would be transferred to the company’s facility here in Thurles, where it was suggested Britvic had enormous spare capacity. However, these changes would now appear not to be fully practical.
Looking at the overall unemployment situation presently in Thurles, one is reminded of the words of Cecil Woodham-Smith, taken from her authoritative book “The Great Hunger: Ireland: 1845-1849,” quote “Industry and enterprise were extinguished and a peasantry created which was one of the most destitute in Europe.”
George. This is not good news for the workers in Thurles. Why on earth does James Reilly not take more notice at what is happening in his own country instead of what the Australian government is doing?. Its well known here that plain packaging of cigarette’s is just an election ploy and is just not working and if James Reilly thinks it will work in Ireland he is on another planet. The Aussie labour government comes out every week with some crazy idea hoping to win votes but there will be a huge landslide against them come September. This labour Government is absolutely ruining Australia with thousands thrown out of work every week. As James Reilly said Australia was the first country to introduce plain packaging and was also the first country to let into Australia over 5,000 illegal immigrants by boat every month and has no idea how to stop them. Its a complete sham!! James Reilly please look after our own people and beautiful Ireland before worrying what you can copy with what the Aussie Government is doing or you will go down the same path come elections in Ireland.
OH ,NO!…THE ONLY HOPE FOR FUTURE JOBS AND GROWTH IN THURLES IS NOW RESTING ON THE LONG DEBATED CASINO ,TWO MILE BORRIS. HOPEFULLY DUBLIN BASED GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS SHALL NOT DRAW OUT THIS TO SUCH LENGHTY DISCUSSIONS AND SQUEEZE ITS DECLARED VOLUME INTO A MINISCULE SHELL THAT WE THE SUFFERING AND DESTITUTE VOTER SHALL LOOSE ALL HOPE……OH…WHAT’S THAT? – TOO LATE!