A MAJOR question mark today hangs over the future of Bacardi Martini's Southampton plant and the 400 people it employs there.
A spokesman for the drinks giant refused to deny it is considering quitting the city, when questioned by the Daily Echo.
Asked if it was true they were thinking of shutting the bottling plant in the docks and were now looking for new offices for sales staff, he would only say a "global review" of the business was under way.
The news echoes similar announcements from tobacco giant BAT shortly before it axed manufacturing in the city with the loss of more than 500 jobs.
Southampton Bacardi managers say the future is out of their hands, with key decisions being taken by bosses overseas. In the meantime it is "business as usual" for the eight-acre plant in West Bay Road, where the highest paid director earned £311,000 in 2005.
More on this in today's Daily Echo
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