Cosmetics factory to close after 150 years in town

A cosmetics factory that has been based in Somerset for 150 years has announced it will close and move production to Scotland.

KDC/One, one of Wellington's biggest employers, announced a proposal to close its Swallowfield site in the town in November 2025.

Following consultation, a spokesperson for the company said it had made the "difficult decision" to move the work and absorb the production volume to another site in Irvine, Scotland later in 2026.

Dave Farrow, Chief Executive of Wellington Town Council said it was "devastating" news for the town and a "terrible day" for the employees.

"It's part of the town's history. It's part of our legacy.

"It's clearly a major employer in Wellington and going to have a massive impact on the local economy. We are very concerned about it."

In a statement, the company KDC/one said: "The production volume from Swallowfield Wellington will transfer to our Barony Universal site in Scotland during 2026, so we can operate more efficiently.

"We would like to thank all those who have worked for the company, past and present. Our priority remains supporting our employees throughout this period."

It added the decommissioning of the Wellington site will take place in 2027.

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