Future of Rotterdam jobs unclear after Unilever Foods sold to U.S. company

Unilever has not indicated whether any jobs in the Netherlands will be affected after its food division was acquired by the American firm McCormick. “It’s still too early to provide details on possible changes,” a Unilever spokesperson said.

She added, “We will follow the necessary consultation and discussion procedures with our works councils and other employee representative bodies before the transaction is finalized.”

Unilever’s food division in the Netherlands employs around 1,000 people and is formally headquartered in Rotterdam. After the merger, the company will continue under the name McCormick, retaining its global headquarters in Hunt Valley, Maryland, USA.

Unilever announced on Tuesday that it had reached a deal to sell a significant portion of its division. The transaction is worth 44.8 billion dollars, equivalent to 39 billion euros.

The spokeswoman stated that Unilever Foods’ staff will play a “key role” in the success of the merged company, and that McCormick’s greater scale will provide opportunities for employees throughout the organization.

The Unilever spokeswoman stressed, “This transaction is aimed at growth. McCormick has clearly stated its intention to integrate Unilever Foods’ technological capabilities, research and development centers, and production operations into the McCormick organization.”

For now, CNV says it has no “major concerns” regarding the merger, though many questions remain. “A lot is still uncertain at this stage,” the union commented. “It is at least reassuring that the food division in the Netherlands will be preserved, rather than being broken up or sold to an investment firm,” it added.

CNV raised questions about the implications for Rotterdam employees who work across several Unilever divisions. “What will happen to their roles? The full impact on jobs is still unclear,” the union stated.