Production ended

The last pack of cigarettes has rolled off the production line at Japan Tobacco International’s facility in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, according to a BBC Online story relayed by the TMA.

It wasn’t clear from the TMA abstract of the story on which day manufacturing ceased but the story was dated October 24.

JTI is closing its production facility in Northern Ireland and shifting manufacturing operations to Poland, a move expected to result in the loss of 800 jobs in Northern Ireland.

Again, it wasn’t clear how many of those jobs had already disappeared.

The JTI UK website on October 26 was showing that the company had 900 employees across the UK, but at three locations, all of which were in England.

A JTI spokesman was quoted as saying that the company would like to “extend its deepest thanks to all current and past members of the Lisnafillan factory team for their dedication over the years and their continued commitment and professionalism until the very end of production”.