Workers at a chocolate factory broke down in tears after being told that 645 jobs were to be axed under a major restructuring plan.
Nestle said the jobs would go from next year at the 116-year-old factory in York, which makes top-selling products including KitKat, Aero, Yorkie, Milky Bar, Rolo, Smarties, Dairy Box and Black Magic.
The Swiss-owned firm said part of the site will be sold and the production of chocolates including Smarties, Dairy Box, Black Magic and Matchmakers will be moved to other factories in the UK and Europe.
Nestle said it will invest £20 million to expand the York plant, which will continue to employ 1,800 workers after the announcement.
The GMB described the announcement, the latest in a series of jobs losses in York following the closure of the Terry's chocolate factory a year ago and 450 posts cut last week by Norwich Union, as a "devastating blow".
Workers were grim-faced as they filed out of the huge, sprawling Nestle site in the north of the city after hearing the news.
One woman, who said she had worked at the factory for 30 years, said many had feared the job losses were coming and their only surprise was that the production of Smarties was to be transferred to Germany.
She said: "Morale here has been at rock bottom for some time. People are devastated but not really surprised. There have been rumours about jobs going like this for some time and now there are just going to be more rumours about who's getting the chop and when."
Another woman said: "People are just terrified. I thought this might come but it's still a big shock. You've got to think about your mortgage and everything else. There were people in tears in there. Grown men and everything."
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Outside the main gates GMB organiser John Kirk said: "This is a bleak day for York but we are going to fight all the plans to move brands away from here."
