THE LAST batch of one of Ireland’s most famous sweets has rolled off the production line, bringing an end to almost 100 years of tradition at Co Donegal company Oatfield Sweets.
The Emerald has become a firm favourite since it was first made more than 50 years ago. Hundreds of thousands of the chocolate toffees have been exported around the world in recent years.
However, the owner of Oatfield Sweets, Zed Candy, decided to close the Letterkenny factory on May 27th and to switch production to England.
Workers watched as the final rows of the famous toffees were covered in chocolate and packed for the last time.
The move will see 17 workers lose their jobs and bring an end to one of Co Donegal’s most famous firms.
At the height of its production, Oatfield employed 85 workers and produced a range of popular sweets including Orange Chocolates and Irish Butter Toffee.
The company was founded by Ira and Haddon McKinney in 1927. They made sweets on an open coke fire in a shed before they moved to the site of the factory in 1930.
Workers are negotiating their redundancy terms and are seeking three weeks’ pay for each year of service.
Local Senator Jimmy Harte, who has represented workers on several occasions, said he hoped management at Zed Candy would give workers the redundancy packages they deserved.
“The Oatfield’s workforce have always been a loyal and hard-working group of people.
“I spoke with management at Zed Candy and they have assured me that they will do all in their powers to accommodate the workers,” he said.