With the closure of Somerdale near Bristol,and Bournville job losses with Cadburys being taken over by Kraft foods,the question is,what is the costs to truck all the chocalate from Poland to the UK,The Kraft boss lied by saying jobs would be ok at Bristol,she changed her mind,and she has been asked to a hearing to explain that,if she turns up for fraud charges,she is a right curly wurly,would l;love to double deck her,and put some cream in her eggs,and she can milk at my dairy.
Not knocking Poland here,they are hard grafters,and helped us out in the war as pilots with the RAF,and Orys may be tuning in.
somerdale was going to close even before the Kraft buyout,some of the lines had been closed for quite some time before kraft took over 
i use to like doing somerdale it was a full shift but a good night !
Did the triangle trunk from Somerdale to Bournville,drop and swap or keep the same trailer to Perivale in west London,drop and swap or same ,back to Gregories ,when they running out of the Keynsham depot.
Free sweets at all factories,but it was nor allowed to take them out of the factory.Good canteens at their factories,it was a 15 hour shift,and sometimes have to go via Minworth in Birmingham.No problems with the staff.
Toby, there were loads of posts about Somerdale / Keynsham before, the plant was about knackered, it needed a huge amount of investment to bring it up to scratch.
Cadburys had started to invest in their other plants long before the Kraft buyout and as mentioned, Cadburys was going to close it anyway. They had hardly made any chocolate there for quite a while as it was imported or made in other plants in the UK
No worries,saw the paper article about the big boss yesterdays rags.
toby1234abc:
she is a right curly wurly,would l;love to double deck her,and put some cream in her eggs,and she can milk at my dairy.
Toby, you need help, desperately.
Time to go to Specsavers.
The decision to close the Somerdale factory to close was made years before Kraft was even looking at Cadbury.
The grounds where sold, the last 15 years were there no decent investment in the factory anymore, the Boiler house was outdated and the whole former Frys Somerdale factory in Keynsham was full of asbestos.
I think the shareholders and the Cadbury management knew already for years that it would not be a viable and economic decision to bring the factory into the 21st century, not even in the 20th for a fact.
They bought Wedel in Wroclaw and Warszawa in 1998, and started the company Cadbury Wedel.
From that moment on the faith for the jobs involving manual labour was signed, there was a cheaper option, nothing to blame for the Polish, Cadbury done it before with production in France, India, New Zealand, USA, Australia etc.
We are only to blame ourselves, are we willing to pay that extra for British product, or do we go for the cheap option? I personally think it’s the last.
For example: In the UK there are relative less traditional bakers than in any other country in Europe, why??
Because we/you are happy to eat this bouncy full of chemicals and additives crap, called bread, why? Because it’s cheap and stay soft for a week or so.
Do we request quality, or do we except anything as long as it’s cheap?
This cause job loses, and companies are only there to make money, not to be nice to you, than they would be a charity. They are not interested if you have a job or not (to a certain extend) as long as the Asdas, Tescos make stupid profit they are happy.
And they make only more money buy producing cheaper than ever.
Because the average British consumer has for his food a few simple rules, it doesn’t need to be nice, as long as it is greasy, a lot and CHEAP.
Hence the grow of the Lidl’s and Aldi’s who bring more foreign produced crap in the country than anybody else.
The simple rule is……… use it or loose it!
If we / you buy cheap chocolate from Tesco / Asda / Lidl’s / Aldi instead of the British produced stuff from the likes of Cadbury, Nestle, Masterfoods, Rowantree, Thorthon’s etc. you will see even more job losses to Poland.
We have lost our Green grocers, with quality British grown product, our Butchers, our Bakers and we are losing our industries if we…………that means you and me, not protect them.
If whole Britain refuses to eat HP sauce because it’s produced in Holland, I wonder how long it will take before Heinz in Wigan brings a line in to produce it here?
There is no point moaning about it, we need to do something about it, we have the money and the power, and we can tell them what we want to buy!
Stop eating your cheapo Poland, Bulgaria or Romanian produced biscuit, buy McVities, Kitkat, etc. and protect your country and country man from running empty.
Much of the problems are caused by the huge disconnect between wages and the cost of living, particularly housing costs. Firstly, it is mathematically unrealistic to work for £20,000 a year if the most modest home costs upwards of £140,000 and secondly the inflated value of property makes development more attractive to brownfield site owners.
@ Frans, all good points and all true. 
Harry Monk:
Much of the problems are caused by the huge disconnect between wages and the cost of living, particularly housing costs. Firstly, it is mathematically unrealistic to work for £20,000 a year if the most modest home costs upwards of £140,000 and secondly the inflated value of property makes development more attractive to brownfield site owners.
Is it not the problem that we are willing to pay stupid money for these houses build out some wood and cardboard. Britain has more house owners average than other countries.
In Holland there are many more people who rent, because they don’t want to work their whole life for a brick.
It’s rusted in here that you need to have some property, and people are willing to buy houses for big money who maybe last maximum 30 years, they put them up in 2 weeks and it’s a bit of brick on the outside and cardboard on the inside, but it looks nice and you can keep up with the Jones.
The Dutch Governement subsidises houses so first buyers can go on the market, they need to because people are not interested if it’s their own after 30-40year working stupid, or it’s rented, and if it falls apart it’s the landlords problem.
As long as we accept this crap and want to keep up with the Jones, prices will be inflated for cardboard built houses.
When the market collapsed a couple of year ago, prices fell in certain area’s for new build project rapidly, but if we are willing to pay, people will ask what they want for houses with 5 bedrooms (2 smaller than my wardrobe) and a garage not even big enough to turn a pushbike around. But it sounds nice to talk about it.on parties that you have a 5 bedroom teracced cardboard box
Kraft Foods are experts at exporting UK jobs,just ask the loyal workforce at Terrys of York 
caledoniandream:
Harry Monk:
Much of the problems are caused by the huge disconnect between wages and the cost of living, particularly housing costs. Firstly, it is mathematically unrealistic to work for £20,000 a year if the most modest home costs upwards of £140,000 and secondly the inflated value of property makes development more attractive to brownfield site owners.Is it not the problem that we are willing to pay stupid money for these houses build out some wood and cardboard. Britain has more house owners average than other countries.
In Holland there are many more people who rent, because they don’t want to work their whole life for a brick.
Partly it is our fault for the pre-occupation with owner-occupancy but equally it is partly the fault of Government and the banking system to allow the explosion of credit which allowed it to happen. Either way, it has led to a situation where, in order be able to work for the wages being offered, one needs to be prepared to share accommodation, even rooms, with one’s peers.
It’s the kids I feel sorry for, graduating after three or four years of study and £15,000 in debt, and unable to land even a minimum wage job, with little hope of ever obtaining a decent quality of life.
[quote="Harry Monk
Partly it is our fault for the pre-occupation with owner-occupancy but equally it is partly the fault of Government and the banking system to allow the explosion of credit which allowed it to happen. Either way, it has led to a situation where, in order be able to work for the wages being offered, one needs to be prepared to share accommodation, even rooms, with one’s peers.
It’s the kids I feel sorry for, graduating after three or four years of study and £15,000 in debt, and unable to land even a minimum wage job, with little hope of ever obtaining a decent quality of life.[/quote]
Agree with that Harry.
But on the other site, I have drivers employed, making good money and have Debt like a mountain.
For the simple reason that the kids need 
designer gear, and the house need to be the fanciest of the whole family.
People take here easier debt than in Holland, and the bank delivers a product where the customer asks for.
The interest rates are here in the UK extremely high against Holland and I still cannot believe that people take loans out for a new setee against 29.3% APR. I rather sit on the floor. It’s an open market and if people keep requesting the suppliers will put their prices up. If the car sales drop, you are soon be able to get a new car with a loan around 4% APR, but you need to be willing to wait, and drive the old banger (not my missus but the car) a bit longer.
caledoniandream:
Harry Monk:
Much of the problems are caused by the huge disconnect between wages and the cost of living, particularly housing costs. Firstly, it is mathematically unrealistic to work for £20,000 a year if the most modest home costs upwards of £140,000 and secondly the inflated value of property makes development more attractive to brownfield site owners.Is it not the problem that we are willing to pay stupid money for these houses build out some wood and cardboard. Britain has more house owners average than other countries.
In Holland there are many more people who rent, because they don’t want to work their whole life for a brick.
It’s rusted in here that you need to have some property, and people are willing to buy houses for big money who maybe last maximum 30 years, they put them up in 2 weeks and it’s a bit of brick on the outside and cardboard on the inside, but it looks nice and you can keep up with the Jones.The Dutch Governement subsidises houses so first buyers can go on the market, they need to because people are not interested if it’s their own after 30-40year working stupid, or it’s rented, and if it falls apart it’s the landlords problem.
As long as we accept this crap and want to keep up with the Jones, prices will be inflated for cardboard built houses.
When the market collapsed a couple of year ago, prices fell in certain area’s for new build project rapidly, but if we are willing to pay, people will ask what they want for houses with 5 bedrooms (2 smaller than my wardrobe) and a garage not even big enough to turn a pushbike around. But it sounds nice to talk about it.on parties that you have a 5 bedroom teracced cardboard box
But what are your private rent costs vs. mortgage at, say, 5% on comparable size & location property? The problem we have in many areas of the UK is that repayment wise, it’s roughly the same monthly cost to rent privately as it is to buy, and in some cases renting is more expensive. The obvious answer there is to buy as there’s nothing more to pay when your 25 years [typically] is up other than day-to-day maintenance costs. With renting you never stop paying as the properly is never yours plus you always have the worry of being turfed out with a mere 1 months notice if the landlord suddenly decides he doesn’t want to let anymore.
I know Rob what you saying, the laws are different in the UK than in Holland. It’s very difficult to get somebody out your house when they rent.
Most rented property is owned by counsel or governement, and prices are competitive.
I always have bought my house, but my daughter don’t want to own a brick, she has moved house several times for her job and wouldn’t want the hasle of buying and selling.
But I think there are a lot of people who lose their house now in the recesion, who wished they never had bothered.
It’s not yours till the last penny is paid, however you twist or turn it, if things go wrong your house where many people left a lot for is worth much less than market value.
The banks don’t like me, becaue I own them nothing, but offer me at least 6x a month to remorgage my house or take a massive loan out, because they don’t care if anything goes wrong that I have to sleep under the bridge.
And if you’re a healthy, white, hetero-■■■■■■ male, born and bred in this country you’re at the back of the queue for a council house. If there’s any left that is.
44 Tonne Ton:
And if you’re a healthy, white, hetero-■■■■■■ male, born and bred in this country you’re at the back of the queue for a council house. If there’s any left that is.
Who would anyone want one anyway? They’re all in places akin to Beirut and the rents reflect that.
Rob K:
caledoniandream:
Harry Monk:
Much of the problems are caused by the huge disconnect between wages and the cost of living, particularly housing costs. Firstly, it is mathematically unrealistic to work for £20,000 a year if the most modest home costs upwards of £140,000 and secondly the inflated value of property makes development more attractive to brownfield site owners.Is it not the problem that we are willing to pay stupid money for these houses build out some wood and cardboard. Britain has more house owners average than other countries.
In Holland there are many more people who rent, because they don’t want to work their whole life for a brick.
It’s rusted in here that you need to have some property, and people are willing to buy houses for big money who maybe last maximum 30 years, they put them up in 2 weeks and it’s a bit of brick on the outside and cardboard on the inside, but it looks nice and you can keep up with the Jones.The Dutch Governement subsidises houses so first buyers can go on the market, they need to because people are not interested if it’s their own after 30-40year working stupid, or it’s rented, and if it falls apart it’s the landlords problem.
As long as we accept this crap and want to keep up with the Jones, prices will be inflated for cardboard built houses.
When the market collapsed a couple of year ago, prices fell in certain area’s for new build project rapidly, but if we are willing to pay, people will ask what they want for houses with 5 bedrooms (2 smaller than my wardrobe) and a garage not even big enough to turn a pushbike around. But it sounds nice to talk about it.on parties that you have a 5 bedroom teracced cardboard boxBut what are your private rent costs vs. mortgage at, say, 5% on comparable size & location property? The problem we have in many areas of the UK is that repayment wise, it’s roughly the same monthly cost to rent privately as it is to buy, and in some cases renting is more expensive. The obvious answer there is to buy as there’s nothing more to pay when your 25 years [typically] is up other than day-to-day maintenance costs. With renting you never stop paying as the properly is never being turfed out with a mere 1 months notice if the landlord suddenly decides he doesn’t want to let anymore.
but when you rent you dont put in new kitchens,bathrooms, roofs,block pave the drive,new boiler,extensions,flowers etc,etc, :roll
ady1:
but when you rent you dont put in new kitchens,bathrooms, roofs,block pave the drive,new boiler,extensions,flowers etc,etc,
Nor do you do it when you buy either, unless you choose* to.
- new boiler and roof being the exceptions, but neither of those are going to break the bank; maybe £5k for an average sized house.