The owner of McVitie’s sold a Glasgow factory and made a secret donation to the city council, raising eyebrows and concerns among locals.
They closed the Glasgow factory in 2022, which cost over 400 jobs. The site was sold to Clowes Developments last June for a hefty sum.
Recently, it came to light that Pladis wanted to keep their donation under wraps. They asked the council not to reveal their name as the donor.
At a closed meeting, council members learned about the donation. Reporters were asked to leave before they discussed it.
After the news broke, Pladis claimed they aimed to leave a positive legacy for the local community. But many aren’t buying it.
The GMB union, which represented the laid-off workers, criticized the company. They said the donation feels like a poor consolation prize for those who lost their jobs.
Louise Gilmour from the union called for transparency. She believes the people of Glasgow deserve better than secretive deals.
She pointed out that the workers who lost their jobs need real support, not just a donation from a company that made £100 million in profits last year.
Gilmour argued that Pladis should have kept the factory open instead of shutting it down. The community deserves good jobs and reliable employers.
Meanwhile, the historic Victoria Biscuit Works is being demolished. A new warehouse is being advertised, but the future of the site remains uncertain.
Local politicians tried to save the factory, but their efforts fell short. The factory was famous for making beloved British biscuits like Digestives and Hobnobs.
Pladis stated they always intended to benefit the local community with their donation. They’re now looking into how to make that happen.
The Record has reached out to Glasgow City Council for their comments on the situation.
