Cristina Hodgson
COCA-COLA has announced the closure of its historic factory in Malaga which celebrates its six-decade anniversary on November 7.
The bottling plant in Malaga focuses on glass products and ‘bag in box’ (containers formed by a box and a bag) primarily for the hotel and catering industry.
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In recent years the Malaga factor has faced cuts, including a staff reduction from 140 workers in 2014 to the current number which stands at 77 employees.
Of the 77 workers, a third are over 55 years old and many have been with the company for more than 30 years.
The company is expected to present the Employment Regulation File (ERE) next week and negotiations will begin, which could include a relocation to the Sevilla factory, early retirement or compensation.
Workers Commissions in Malaga (CCOO) have asked for ‘consideration’ for those employees over 60 who have been in the factory all their lives.
In contrast to the decline of activity in the Malaga factory, the Sevilla installations has grown from strength to strength.
In fact the Sevilla factory is the largest Coca-Cola European Partners (CCEP) in Europe with a capacity to produce 25% of the total product sold in Spain through its eleven lines which represent the entire product portfolio.
Additionally the Sevilla factory, located in La Rinconada, also has a state-of-the-art robotic warehouse with capacity for 100,000 pallets.
Just last year, the production rate in the Sevilla factory reached 130 million unit boxes, while Malaga only produced 20 million boxes.
In short, the Sevilla facility is the largest and most modern of this company in Europe and the Malaga plant has become obsolete.
