Danone plans closure of infant-cereal plant in France

Core Viewpoint - Danone plans to close its Blédina infant-cereal production site in France, affecting 117 employees, due to a prolonged decline in activity and a challenging market environment [1][2][3]. Group 1: Closure Details - The Blédina factory, located in Villefranche-sur-Saône, produces baby cereals and has been experiencing a slow decline in activity for over a decade [1][2]. - Production from the Blédina site is expected to be transferred to Danone's facility in Opole, Poland, while the company will continue to produce infant cereal [3]. Group 2: Employee Support - Affected employees will be offered alternative positions within France, particularly in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region [4]. - Danone will provide additional social support, including training programs and a career transition campus, with discussions to be held with employee representatives [5]. Group 3: Financial Context - Earlier in the year, Danone announced the closure of another facility in Germany, impacting 230 jobs [6]. - In its latest financial report, Danone reported a 4.8% increase in third-quarter like-for-like sales, reaching €6.88 billion ($8 billion), with European sales growth of 2.6% [6].