Unilever to relocate food and refreshment jobs to Netherlands

Consumer goods giant Unilever is preparing to move dozens of UK jobs to Europe.

The Anglo-Dutch firm has launched a consultation with around 140 of its UK employees about the possibility of relocating their roles to Rotterdam, according to Sky News.

The move is part of a plan to create a new international HQ in the Netherlands.

The new team would combine household brands including Marmite, Magnum ice cream, PG Tips and Lipton.

While the roles affected represent less than 2% of Unilever’s workforce in ‎Britain, the relocation is still likely to draw interest. Job security was among the issues raised earlier this year when fellow manufacturing giant Kraft Heinz considered a £115bn takeover.

The combination of the company’s food and refreshment units, made to enhance profitability and returns to shareholders, was first announced back in April without the jobs angle.

The decision is believed to be unrelated to Brexit.

Elsewhere, Unilever is running a £6bn auction of its global spreads business, with a number of private equity groups reportedly planning to submit offers in the coming weeks.