Kenwood takes the China option

KENWOOD APPLIANCES, the eponymous maker of food blenders, yesterday said it would cut 260 jobs and move production, apart from its Kenwood Chef food mixer and water-filter businesses, from the UK to China.

In the final phase of its three-year cost-cutting drive, Kenwood is closing and selling a 12-acre plant in Havant in southern England. "UK manufacturing is no longer a competitive option for us on most of our product lines," said Colin Gordon, Kenwood chief executive. "I deeply regret the loss of jobs, but in order to safeguard the long-term competitiveness and success of Kenwood, there is no alternative," he said.

The shares ended up 2.5p at 65p. Kenwood also said it was selling a specialist engineering business based on the Isle of White to management for pounds 1.1m.