The Coca-Cola Company has announced it is to close its manufacturing and distribution operation in Drogheda in September 2008.
The closure of the Drogheda Concentrates facility will result in the loss of 256 jobs at the Co Louth plant.
The company said the plants it has in Ballina, Co Mayo and Athy, Co Kildare can meet the demand for concentrate and beverage base supply from Ireland.
Some of the affected employees from Drogheda will have the opportunity to move to the company's other two plants. The company said there would be 90 new positions at those plants.
The Coca-Cola Company has announced it is to close its manufacturing and distribution operation in Drogheda in September 2008.
Hugo Reidy, General Manager of the Drogheda plant, said the company is going into a period of consultation with the employee representatives and Coca-Cola remains committed to Ireland.
'With approximately 540 jobs in the concentrate business, the Company remains committed to Ireland as a business location, and the country continues to play an important strategic role in supporting the growth of The Coca-Cola Company', he said.
SIPTU's North East Branch Organiser, John King, said : 'Coca Cola is one of the principal employers in Drogheda and the closure of the plant will have far reaching consequences for the community, as there is very little alternative employment in the area'.
SIPTU represents almost 90% of the workers who are losing their jobs.
According to Mr King the Ballina operation is a non-union site where workers will be on inferior pay and conditions of employment.
He said it will begin a process with senior management in Coca Cola to see if the union can off-set the consequences of so many job losses in Drogheda.
