Birmingham Mail

And with the transfer of a slice of Bournville's manufacturing empire go another 200 West Midland jobs - never to return.

John Cadbury, toiling in the early 19th century in his shop to meet demand for his delicious coffee, tea and cocoa, could never have dreamed that Polish labour would eventually usurp Brummie expertise.

But industrial technology, allied to the growing threat of foreign competition in a cutthroat world, long ago dealt a mortal blow to the likes of Mr Cadbury's shop.

In simple terms, Cadbury Schweppes is merely following in a long line of UK-based manufacturers exporting West Midland jobs abroad.

HP Sauce is now made in Holland. Peugeot jobs at the now defunct Ryton plant in Coventry have been sacrificed to overseas factories.

This is the stark reality of the global economy. It's not so much selling off the family silver as ensuring the roof stays on while economic gales threaten to shatter the very foundations of UK industry.

To that degree, Cadbury's decision to export work - and jobs - from Bournville to the cheaper cost-base of Poland makes economic sense.

But there's a wider issue here.

Cadbury continually claims Bournville is its "flagship" and, according to chief executive Todd Stitzer, will be the heart of the group "as long as there is breath in my body."

Try telling that today to the 200 Birmingham workers whose skills are being switched to Eastern Europe. The remaining 2,300 employees deserve a full statement from their bosses over Bournville's future, not weasel words to be retracted just weeks later.