Confectionery giant Cadbury Schweppes is planning to cut 10% of its 55,000-strong global workforce and shut one fifth of its 133 factories. The cuts are part of a drive by the company to save £400m a year by 2007.
A spokesperson for the company said there were no details yet on where the job cuts and closureswould take place. The company has three plants in Dublin.
The group - whose brands include Dairy Milk, Flake and Bassett's Liquorice Allsorts - has been facing tough conditions after confectionery sales suffered in the Europe-wide heatwave.
The company had warned that 2003 would be a year of transition following the acquisition of confectionery group Adams for £2.7 billion from Pfizer in March.
This brought the Trident, Dentyne and Bubbas gum brands, as well as Halls medicated sweets, into the group.
