Ice Cream maker Hill Station has commenced consultations with employees at a subsidiary’s manufacturing plant in Cheadle, Cheshire, over the future of the site.


The move is part of Hill Station’s integration of the two companies it acquired on 18 November 2005 – Granelli McDermott Limited (Granelli) and Loseley Dairy Ice Cream Limited (Loseley).


The consultation with employees at Cheadle will be completed by 13 February 2006 when an announcement on the future of the site will be made, the company said in a statement.


Granelli’s manufacturing facility in Tattenhall, Cheshire, closed towards the end of 2005, with production shifting to the Loseley Cwmbran factory, in South Wales – which had previously been under-utilised.


Hill Station spokesperson Gina Hall said: “Since completion of the acquisitions on 18 November, our commercial, product and operations task forces have been working closely together to ensure a smooth transfer process. 


“Production has already commenced in Cwmbran for some of the products previously manufactured at Tattenhall, and we’re on schedule for the rest.”