Kraft Heinz Unilever: Union sounds the alarm over London job loss fears

London-headquartered consumer goods giant Unilever was today urged to reject a “predatory” takeover attempt by Kraft Heinz amid job loss fears.

Britain’s largest union, Unite, said it is seeking a meeting with Marmite to PG Tips maker Unilever, after it emerged that Kraft Heinz had made a surprise $143 billion takeover bid.

Any tie-up would create the world's biggest packaged foods group with around 210,000 employees and hundreds of brands, including Pot Noodle and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream.

Unilever’s head office is at 100 Victoria Embankment by Blackfriars station, where it employs around 800 people. It has 7,500 staff around the UK.

Meanwhile its suitor is relocating its European and UK headquarters to The Shard in April, with around 100 employees moving from Hayes. It has some 2,100 staff in the UK and Ireland.

Unite national officer Rhys McCarthy said: “Unite does not believe this takeover is either in Kraft Heinz workers’ interests or those of Unilever and that ultimately it will lead to jobs losses and poorer products for consumers.”

He added that the organisation will “seek assurances that the company will resist this predatory takeover by Kraft Heinz”.

Potential headcount reduction was also flagged by John Colley, a professor of practice at Warwick Business School: “The main benefits from such a deal would be major cost reduction as head offices and regional management could be merged.”

Unilever said it has turned down an offer: "Unilever does not see the basis for any further discussions." But Kraft indicated it would continue working towards striking a deal.

Competition regulators would be expected to scrutinise any transaction to combine the two companies.