GLOBE readers have reacted to news that a chocolate factory has closed its doors for good this week.

The factory, situated on part of the Pasture Road plot once home to Cadbury's, closed on Wednesday. 

Barry Callebaut, the Swiss firm which ran the facility said there had been a significant decrease in customer requirements and volume at the site.

In a statement this week, the company said it had "made the difficult decision to close the factory" following consultation.

Readers had mixed views about the closure in comments on social media.

Lesley Palin wrote: "Such a shame. I loved my time in cakes then biscuits,and my dad worked in tea for a bit and then biscuits such a big employer for the area at one time."

Peter Lang commented: "Sad to read this. Both my grandparents worked there all their lives before they retired. I used to love the smell as my family lived in Moreton. Sad days."

Keith Banks put: "Everyone has a relative who worked there. Such a shame."

Lesley Farrell wrote: "So sad to see this, generations of gamilies worked here...."

Marie Camara added: "Yet another chunk of history down the pan x What's great Britain x"

Robert Woods reflected: "Horrible to see once again all foreign owner closing factory down blaming demand. It's not that they just want move it to country where cheaper wages. Joke UK."

Helen Winstanley wrote: "Well I wonder how many people saw this coming - more houses no doubt." 

Clair Barham commented: "Bad enough seeing the Moreton side go now the leasowe side starting suppose more housing." 

Dean Jones put: "Meaning there going to continue building houses..... money talks doesnt it!"

Sandra Evans wrote: "That's so sad, but it's been on the cards for years." 

Mark Kevlin: "Soon to be full of houses because the land was worth more than the factory, jobs and lives"

Barry Callebaut acquired the Burton’s Biscuit Company site in 2019. Burton's had bought the site from Cadbury's 32 years earlier.

Despite there being 45 permanent employees and 19 agency employees at the site, only permanent site colleagues are set to receive the agreed redundancy packages.

A spokesperson for Barry Callebaut told the Globe: "Following a consultation process at Barry Callebaut’s chocolate factory in Moreton, we have made the difficult decision to close the factory on May 31.

"This is not a course of action that has been taken lightly and comes after exploring all alternatives to better balance production capacity and demand in the UK.

"We would like to thank all our employees for their dedication and hard work over the years.”

Franny Joyce, regional co-ordinating officer for Unite the Union said: "Today is a very sad day for our members employed at Barry Callebaut some of whom have spent their entire working life there.

"Unfortunately despite our best endeavours we were unable to come up with a viable alternative to the company’s proposal to closure.

"The spare capacity within the company and the high energy and overhead costs of a very old site that hadn’t had proper investment for a while presented made it impossible for us to achieve a different outcome.

"Our members were a very loyal and skilled workforce whom I hope will find alternative employment very soon."

Wallasey MP Dame Angela Eagle MP said: "The closure of the Barry Callebaut factory marks the sad end of 70 years of chocolate production in Moreton.

"Since Cadbury first built the site back in 1952, generations of local families have found work in the chocolate factory, as it became Burton’s Biscuit Company in the 80’s and was eventually acquired by Barry Callebaut in 2019.

"Today’s closure brings the loss of 62 local jobs and an end to the proud tradition of chocolate making in Moreton and is a very sad day for the local community.”