Sudocrem factory closure with 110 job losses a 'devastating' blow - Varadkar

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar has described the intended closure of the Sudocrem manufacturing plant in Dublin with the loss of 110 jobs as "devastating".

Production is to move to Bulgaria, with the Dublin factory expected to begin winding down operations in the third quarter of next year.

The move is scheduled to be completed by January of 2023.

“The decision by Teva today to close its Sudocrem manufacturing plant in Baldoyle is devasting news for the 110 employees affected and their families. I know this must be an incredibly worrying time, especially given everything that’s happened over the past year. My thoughts are with them today.

“I welcome the company’s commitment to maintain a strong presence in Ireland, including to its Waterford plant. I’m also glad to hear Teva say that they will do everything they can to support their employees. I want workers to know that the Government will also make all necessary State assistance available to them. The Minister for Social Protection is aware of the situation and we will work across Government, to help them find new employment, education and training opportunities as soon as possible.”

In a statement the company said: "Yesterday we met with employees at our Baldoyle plant to inform them of the proposed closure of the site, as part of a wider programme to optimise our global manufacturing network."

"We know that this news is disappointing for many, but we'll do everything we can to support all our affected employees throughout this process," the company said.

Sudocrem was first developed in 1931 by a Professor of Pharmacy and Dublin retail pharmacist Thomas Smith.

He found that the healing cream was excellent at treating nappy rash, eczema, pressure sores, incontinence rash and a variety of other minor skin lesions.

Due to demand, production grew through the 1940s and 1950s, when it was branded as Sudocrem.

Sales doubled during the 1970s and the product began to be made available in Northern Ireland and northwest England, before becoming widely available in the UK in the 1980s.

In 1984 the plant was set up in Baldoyle to cope with the extra demand.

Today the product is available in more than 50 countries around the world.

It is understood that one of the reasons behind the decision to move production to Bulgaria is that the Baldoyle plant cannot be expanded further.