MANAGEMENT from Terry's have come face-to-face with union leaders to explain their decision to close the site.

Commercially-sensitive information was offered to representatives from the GMB and Amicus unions to explain why the decision to close the site was taken.

Terry's spokesman Jonathan Horrell said: "What site managers did was give a full explanation on the background to the decision and information about a range of alternatives.

"All sides recognised the need to move from that site. The Terry's site as it stands is not sustainable and that seems to have been realised by all sides.

"We are now keen to move on to discuss how we can support employees through what will be a difficult period of time."

Yesterday the Evening Press revealed how its campaign to save the site had been dealt a major blow, despite more than 2,000 people giving their support.

Richard Johnson, vice-president of corporate affairs at the firm's US owners, Kraft Foods, said switching the chocolate operation to a new, smaller plant in the city was "unviable".

He said the bombshell decision to sever Terry's historic York links and move production abroad, putting 316 jobs at risk, had not been taken lightly.

He denied the food giant was snubbing readers by not formally replying to our open letter published 18 days ago calling for Terry's to stay in York in some form.

John Kirk, the regional organiser of the GMB, was unavailable for comment.

Updated: 10:32 Friday, May 07, 2004