R&R to close German ice cream plant

R&R Ice Cream says it will close its Durigon Gelato plant in Schwanewede at the end of 2013. With 10 production plants throughout Europe and an annual turnover of €570 million, R&R only bought the Durigon business in 2011. The stated aim then was to expand the plant in north-German Schwanewede where Italian-style ice cream was the speciality (2010 turnover: €20m). But by this summer staff numbers at the Durigon plant had been more than halved to just 30 employees and R&R said it would be shifting production of the brand’s ice lollies, cornets, wafers and other products to R&R plants. R&R claims to be the largest producer of private label ice creams in Europe with exports EU-wide. Top German labels supplied include Landliebe Eiscreme, Botterbloom, Vita Cola Eis. Mars ice cream is also marketed by R&R in Germany.