Coca-Cola plans drastic closures: What does that mean for Knetzgau?
Coca-Cola plans drastic closures: What does that mean for Knetzgau?
The beverage manufacturer Coca-Cola has announced that it has to reduce over 500 jobs in Germany and close five locations. These drastic measures aim to increase the company's efficiency in the middle of a highly competitive market. The affected locations include the production and logistics location in Cologne as well as logistics centers in Neumünster, Berlin-Hohenschönhausen, Bielefeld and Memmingen. Of the 505 lost positions, 207 are to be relocated to other locations in Germany. The NGG union has sharply criticized the closures and speaks of "pure profit greed".
A special focus is on the Coca-Cola plant in Knetzgau, in the Haßberge district, which has existed since 1978. This location is one of the largest of the company in Germany and plays a central role in filling soft drinks for the Franconia region. The operating area comprises impressive 170,000 square meters, and around 500 employees are on duty every day to ensure the production and shipping of the drinks. In 2022 alone, around 58 million beverage crates were sent from here.
Current situation in Knetzgau
In view of the announced closings, many are wondering whether the work in Knetzgau could also be affected. However, Coca-Cola spokesman Benedikt Gietmann made it clear that the location is not affected by the changes. "There are no plans in this direction," he assured on Wednesday, October 2, 2024. In addition, new jobs are to be created in Knetzgau. "We will set up two new positions in logistics," announced Gietmann. This is part of a larger strategy of Coca-Cola in which a total of 78 new jobs are to be created nationwide.
The work in Knetzgau not only acts as a production facility, but also as a logistics location. About 85 percent of the drinks delivered here are produced locally, while the rest comes from other regions. The management had only invested in the infrastructure in 2020 and put 20 million euros in a new warehouse. These investments reflect the company's commitment to the region and emphasize the central role of the location.
In the meantime, there were protests by employees of the car supplier Preh in Bad Neustadt an der Saale, who fight against the job cuts planned there. The development shows how difficult the situation has become for many workers in the industry. While Coca-Cola is pursuing its plans, many companies are under pressure to delete or close areas, which leads to uncertainty and tensions in the world of work.When asked how against this background the perspectives of the Knetzgau work, the spokesman for Coca-Cola repeated that no closings or the like were planned there. "We look positively into the future," he added. The employees concerned and the public will be careful how these announcements develop and whether they are actually a step in the right direction for the stability of the jobs in the region.
Comprehensive reporting on the effects of the planned location closings and the reactions on it are found www.infranken.de .
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