Unilever Foods has laid off 26 full-time staff and will not be renewing the contracts of 44 temporary staff at its plant near Inchicore in Dublin.

The company, which is a subsidiary of London-based Unilever plc, is shedding the full-time jobs to "help the long-term competitiveness of the plant".

The 26 permanent staff form part of Unilever's workforce within its savoury production unit at the Goldenbridge factory near Inchicore.

The firm is discontinuing its dehydrated raw material mixing operations at the plant. The function will be outsourced to a Unilever factory in the Netherlands.

Unilever is also upgrading its hot sauce line in Inchicore as part of a €1.1 million investment. This will mean the line can complete its work in one shift rather than the current two.

A small number of the 26 staff are due to leave work in the firm's canteen, which is being outsourced to a third party.

Unilever hopes the staff reductions can be achieved on a voluntary basis.

Most of the 44 temporary staff affected were recruited on short-term contracts to produce soup last September. Unilever said, of these, 36 employees were employed to meet winter peaks in demand but would be finishing this week. The jobs had been due to end before Christmas but had been extended.

Eight temporary staff on other contracts will leave Unilever over the next few months.

Unilever, which is best-known in the Republic for brands such as HB Ice Cream, Knorr and Flora, will continue to employ 110 people in Inchicore.

Unilever Foods Ireland managing director Mr Paul Murphy described the full-time job losses as "regrettable". He said Unilever was committed to supporting those affected in "every practical way".