Heineken has announced it is to close the Beamish & Crawford brewery in Cork with the loss of 120 jobs.
In a statement released this evening, Heineken said it made the decision to close the brewery after 'an intensive integration review process'.
Production will be moved to Heineken's Leitrim Street brewery in the city and up to 40 employees at the Beamish plant will be transferred there. However, the rest of the Beamish facility's 160-strong workforce will be made redundant.
Heineken received clearance from the Competition Authority in October to complete the takeover of Beamish & Crawford. The Dutch drinks company began operating in Ireland in 1983 when it acquired Murphy Brewery.
In the statement, Heineken said that following its review it decided that the 'high costs of operating two breweries in the city, difficulties associated with expansion at the Beamish & Crawford facility and excess brewing capacity at Heineken Ireland, makes the future of the Beamish & Crawford plant unsustainable'.
Heineken’s managing director Gerrit van Loo said the company has 'agreed comprehensive severance terms with the trade union' and will provide 'outplacement support, including career counseling, job search training and pension advice to all departing staff'.
