LONDON (Reuters) - Kraft Foods Inc said on Tuesday it would not reverse a decision by Cadbury Plc to close a manufacturing plant near Bristol because the firm's plans were too advanced to change them.
Kraft, which is in the final stages of taking over Cadbury after a prolonged bid battle, said it had regrettably decided to accept that the plant would shut by 2011.
"In our recent talks with Cadbury senior management, it became clear that it is unrealistic to reverse the closure programme, despite our original intent to do so," Kraft Chief Executive Irene Rosenfeld said in a statement.
"While this is a difficult decision, we have moved quickly to end any further uncertainty."
Kraft said it remained committed to investing in the combined businesses in Britain and said it would continue to support Cadbury's 30 million pound investment plans for the Bournville site.
(Reporting by Kate Holton; Editing by Victoria Bryan and David Holmes)
(c) Reuters 2012. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by caching, framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.
