U.S. food giant Kraft was irresponsible and unwise in reversing its commitment to keep Cadbury's Somerdale plant open following its successful takeover battle for the chocolate maker, a committee of UK lawmakers said, Reuters reported. The Business, Innovation and Skills Committee also urged Kraft on Tuesday to make no further compulsory redundancies or plant closures in the UK over the next two years, following its 11.7 billion pound ($17.7 billion) Cadbury takeover. The report from politicians comes as Britain's Takeover Panel is consulting on possible changes to rules governing mergers and acquisitions, and after UK Business Minister Peter Mandelson has openly expressed his disquiet about the Cadbury takeover. Kraft promised to keep Cadbury's plant at Somerdale near Bristol in south west England open when it launched its hostile bid for Cadbury in early September 2009 but reneged shortly after it won the battle with the loss of 400 Cadbury jobs. The committee urged Kraft to support Cadbury's pension arrangement, manage Cadbury from the UK, support its links to cocoa farmers and also clarify its intention on the future of existing plants and employment levels in Britain. -- SPA
