Manufacturing of Weis ice creams has ceased at its Toowoomba, Queensland site, and relocated to Unilever’s Minto plant in New South Wales. Weis bars have been made in Toowoomba since 1957.
Unilever factory head Keith Head said the company acknowledged, “the exceptional role that Weis has played in the Toowoomba community and are extremely grateful for the contribution of all staff over the last sixty-four years”.
Weis was bought by Unilever in 2017. In November 2019, it announced the manufacturing line would be moving to Sydney.
Then Unilever ANZ CEO Clive Stiff said it hadn’t anticipated the move and it had been its firm intention to keep manufacturing in Queensland.
Unilever gave the commitment that 25 per cent of proceeds from the sale of the site would go to Weis Community Fund, to ensure the contribution of the factory and employees would be remembered, Head said.
When it announced the relocation, Unilever set up a support program for employees to prepare for future employment. Around 93 people would lose their job due to the plant closure.
