Colgate-Palmolive to close Romanian plant

American group Colgate-Palmolive, the largest worldwide manufacturer of toothpaste, has announced it will terminate production in Romania, and close down its only local plant in Brasov. The decision comes amid an extensive restructuring plan to boost effectiveness, with production in Brasov to be transferred to other plants in Poland. “The plant has around 190 employees, who have already been informed about the closure of the facility and assured they will receive support after they are made redundant,” Thomas DiPiazza, spokesperson of the American group, told ZF. The Brasov-based plant manufactures toothpaste, washing up liquid, shaving foam and hand cream. The company announced as early as 2005 that it intended to partially or completely close some of its production facilities. The restructuring programme put together by Colgate-Palmolive involves four plants, one of which is in Brasov. The other plants are in Anzio (Italy), Gebze (Turkey) and Salford (UK), although the latter is still on the company’s restructuring list. The company has announced that it will continue its activity on the local market as a retailer of Colgate toothpaste, Palmolive soaps, cosmetics, and the Ajax brand. In 2006, the company posted domestic turnover worth 55 million euros, and profit worth 11 million euros. Its main competitors are Procter & Gamble and Unilever.