Although Kraft chairman and CEO Irene Rosenfeld wrote to business secretary Peter Mandelson to assure him that that the takeover would show ‘respect for its heritage and employees", unions have described the hostile takeover as a sad day for British manufacturing.
Unite national officer Jennie Formby said: "We have very real fears about how Kraft will repay its debt, particularly as it has ratcheted it up still further in order to purchase Cadbury."
Kraft has reportedly borrowed $7 billion to buy Cadbury. Formby adds: "Whatever good intentions Kraft may have towards Cadbury's workforce, the sad truth is there will be an irresistible imperative to pay down their debt, and this raises real fears for jobs and investment in this country."
Unite claims staff were excluded from taking part in consultation about the takeover.
Kraft, the world's second-largest food company, has said it will continue to invest in Cadbury's iconic Bourneville site, and says jobs are also likely to go in its own organisation as the deal unfolds. Some 10,000 jobs could be cut by Kraft worldwide. The first jobs expected to go are in Cadbury's Uxbridge head office.
The expected job losses come on top of 700 Cadbury redundancies during 2007-8 when production was shifted to Poland and its Keynsham factory was closed.
