Gillette To Close Two UK Facilities

Gillette Co. said it plans to close two blade and razor facilities in the UK by 2007 and will move production to a new plant to be built in Eastern Europe to cut costs.

Specifically, Gillette said it will close a plant in Isleworth in 2007, and a packaging and distribution center in Hemel Hempstead in 2005. The company will also transfer production of its Sensor shaving products to the new Eastern European plant. They are now made in Berlin.

The Boston-based company said it will decide by early next year where in Eastern Europe it would build the plant. The plant will produce disposable razors and other shaving systems, and package and distribute all Gillette blade and razor products in Europe. The company also plans to move manufacturing of stainless steel double-edge and some disposable razors to St. Petersburg, Russia, from Jevicko, Czech Republic.

Gillette spokesman Eric Kraus said the moves would affect about 1,200 to 1,500 jobs, but said it was too early to give an exact figure. The company employs about 30,300 people, 70% of them outside of the U.S. Kraus said the company would provide cost-savings estimates at a later date.