The Kellogg’s factory in Trafford Park could be closing down in the next couple of years after their parent organisation said they don’t see a “long-term future” for it.
A fixture in the Trafford industrial complex and the Stretford area for nearly 90 years, the Greater Manchester Kellogg‘s site produces around a million boxes of popular ranges like Corn Flakes, Rice Krispies and Coco Pops every day and provides jobs for approximately 360 locals.
However, as a subsidiary of the multinational Kellanova — which manufactures cereal, noodles, snacks like Pringles, Pop Tarts Nutri-Grain bars and more — the location could now be shutting down by 2026, with the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (USDAW) describing the news as “devastating”.
Citing their reasons, Kellanova’s managing director Chris Silcock said that the layout of the site “made sense in the 1930s”, but changes in industrial design in the decades since mean that “you just wouldn’t lay out a factory like that nowadays”.
Kellogg’s could be closing the lifeblood of many locals for more than nine decades if Trafford Park goes. (Credit: Wikimedia Commons)
For context, cereal at the 27-acre Trafford Park factory travels up and down six floors before finishing its production cycle and, as he went on to explain, employees “only use half the space in the buildings and the investment required to maintain the factory in the coming years is simply not viable”.
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With thousands of Mancunians and employees from around the North West having worked at the buildings ever since it was opened by the Kellogg Company back in 1938, not only would the closure mark the closing of a long chapter in local industry but could see hundreds seriously suffer.
As per The Grocer, Kellanova has now started formal talks with factory staff and union representatives which are expected to last about three months, although they have insisted that Greater Manchester will remain the company’s British home.
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Labour MP for Urmston and Stretford issued the following statement regarding the potential closure of Kellogg’s Trafford, noting that the brand “has a long and proud history in the constituency and the site has been an iconic part of our community for decades – with generations of local families working there.”
My full statement on the deeply worrying news announced today that Kellogg’s are considering closing their Trafford Park site. https://t.co/XhiogZv8Q4
Silcock added, “We know this will be difficult for many to hear”, assuring that they will allow staff to liaise with representatives and “support them in the right way, should this change happen”, insisting that the plans have “nothing to do with the dedication of the outstanding people who work there”.
As for USDAW, area organiser Mick Murray has confirmed they will now enter into “meaningful consultation talks with the company, where we will interrogate their business case and seek the best possible outcome for staff impacted by the proposed closure.
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“We are providing our members with the support, advice and representation at this difficult time”.
Kellogg’s also has roughly 520 staff employed over the bridge at its HQ and tech hub in MediaCity although they are thought to be unaffected by the announcement, as are staff at their other UK factories and distribution centres.
Details released of Andy Burnham’s meetings with Manchester City owners while Mayor
Emily Sergeant
Details of Andy Burnham’s meetings with Manchester City owners during his tenure as Mayor of Greater Manchester have been released.
In case you need bringing up to speed on the situation a little first, Manchester City was found guilty back in September all of its charges related to the Premier League’s financial rules over a nine-season period, and on top of that, was also found guilty of the majority of charges in relation to its failure to co-operate with the League’s investigation.
According to the Premier League, the independent Commission found that Manchester City had arranged so-called ‘sham’ commercial deals with a number of its sponsors.
These were part of a disguised funding scheme – with those sponsors only required to pay a portion of the relevant sponsorship fees.
The remainder was then funded by Abu Dhabi United Group Investment & Development Ltd (ADUG), which owned the club.
The Commission also concluded, as quoted by the Premier League, that the club had ‘made concerted efforts to stop and frustrate the Premier League investigation’.
Within the past week or so, it has since come to light that now-Prime Minister Andy Burnham had dealings with Manchester City during his tenure as Greater Manchester Mayor, and Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has now issued a public statement, giving details on the matter and what these ‘dealings’ entailed.
A spokesperson for GMCA confirmed that Burnham had a ‘formal meeting’ with Man City Chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, back in October 2021.
The statement reads in full: “In October 2021, Andy Burnham, in his role as Mayor of Greater Manchester, had a formal meeting with Khaldoon Al Mubarak at the UK Government’s Global Investment Summit arranged by the Department for International Trade.
“In his capacity as Mayor, he was a guest of Manchester City FC at home matches on a small number of occasions, including attending Vincent Kompany’s testimonial match in September 2019, where he met the Chairman informally in the stands. These have been declared in the usual way.
“Also during his time as Mayor, representatives of Greater Manchester sporting clubs would routinely join business delegations as part of Mayoral international visits.
“This included representatives from Manchester United travelling to Austin and Dublin, Lancashire Cricket Club joining a delegation to India, and Manchester City FC staff supporting visits to China and Japan.”
Featured Image – Lauren Hurley / Number 10 Downing Street (Press Image via Flickr)
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Multiple arrests made for ‘tragedy chanting’ and police officer assault as Man City defeated Liverpool
Emily Sergeant
Multiple people were arrested over the weekend as Manchester City defeated Liverpool in a Premier League clash.
Merseyside Police have confirmed that a total of 10 people were arrested during the policing operation at Liverpool’s home ground of Anfield as they hosted Manchester City on Sunday 11 October.
One man was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police constable, five were on suspicion of tragedy chanting, one on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly, two for affray, and one on suspicion of throwing items onto the pitch.
Police are now appealing to the public, and are particularly looking to speak to witnesses of the assault of the officer.
At around 6:35pm, as fans left the stadium, a police officer sustained a ‘serious facial injury’ during the arrest of a man on Anfield Road, and was subsequently taken to hospital for treatment but is now recovering at home.
Investigating officers are now conducting enquiries, speaking to witnesses, and analysing CCTV and camera phone footage.
Chief Inspector Leanne Hobin said it’s ‘extremely disappointing’ that an officer has sustained a serious injury while carrying out their duty.
“I hope the arrests send a clear message and act as a deterrent to others,” Chief Inspector Hobin continued. “Anyone who engages in this abhorrent behaviour risks ending up in custody and getting a criminal record.
“Despite the actions of a few, the overwhelming majority of the 60,000 fans in attendance behaved well and I want to thank them for their co-operation.”
Manchester City ended up defeated Liverpool 3-0 during the Premier League clash at Anfield.
Danny Jones -
9th February 2024 
