Drinks group Britvic Ireland has announced that it is to cut 145 jobs over the next 12 months following a review of its business.
The jobs will primarily be cut from logistics, finance, IT, and sales.
Britvic Ireland - with brands including Ballygowan, 7UP, Club, Mi Wadi and Robinsons - currently employs about 940 staff, with operations in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Donegal and Belfast.
The company says it will be restructuring its business, possibly consolidating regional distribution centres to Dublin, which will lead to the closure of the Cork, Ballyshannon and Waterford depots.
The need for restructuring has been accelerated by exceptionally challenging economic and retail conditions in Ireland, the company said.
Recently announced investment programmes of €17m - including the upgrading of the Dublin production facility and the introduction of a new IT infrastructure - remain on track, however.
Britvic management will now engage with staff and their union representatives to begin implementing the changes.
Managing director to step down
Britvic Ireland also announced today that Billy O'Regan would be stepping down as managing director.
Mr O'Regan joined the C&C business in 2006 and integrated three separate businesses to form C&C Soft Drinks. This reorganisation prepared the way for the acquisition by Britvic plc in August 2007, when the company became the first overseas business unit within the broader Britvic Group.
'Billy has signalled his intention to depart the business at the end of April and does so with our best wishes,' said Paul Moody, CEO of Britvic plc.
Mr O'Regan will be replaced by Andrew Richards.
