Fear for over 230 jobs as Cartamundi Group to close production plant in Waterford

A production plant in Co Waterford, which employs more than 230 people, is set to close its doors.

Cartamundi Group, which is a leading manufacturer of board games, has announced that it will cease production at its Waterford plant due to a post-Covid decline in demand.

The company has been manufacturing board games and other items in the Waterford plant since 2015 and currently employs 234 people.

Cartamundi Group, which is headquartered in Belgium and is the parent company of Cartamundi Ireland, said that the intention to close the factory is as a result of “structural overcapacity and reduced demand for board games globally post Covid”.

A spokesperon said: “Sales during Covid and through 2021 were strong and peaked mid-2022. The situation has been aggravated by the increase in raw material and energy costs, which has impacted manufacturers globally.”

It is anticipated that the closure will be phased over a number of months until August 2023.

The announcement was made to employees at the Waterford plant today by the president of Cartamundi solutions division, David Germis, and managing director of Cartamundi Ireland, Barry Morrissey.

The company will now begin consultations with employees, their representatives and state agencies.

Mr Germis said it is “particularly regrettable that we plan to close our Waterford facility”.

“It has been a source of reliable quality production and we wish to thank the management and employees for their dedication and continued application in ensuring the continuous supply of products to our customers, particularly in the recent difficult times,” he said.

“The factory in Waterford has been suffering losses for many months now and this is not sustainable.”

Mr Morrissey said this is a “very sad” day for Cartamundi Ireland.

“We are very proud of the quality of the work and the legacy of the plant and its people in Waterford and appreciate the efforts of everyone at the plant,” he said.

“Our immediate concern is the welfare of our employees. We would like to thank all our employees for their ongoing commitment, in particular during the uncertainty of recent months, and we thank IDA Ireland, the Irish Government, the local community, suppliers and customers for their support.”

Get ahead of the day with the morning headlines at 7.30am and Fionnán Sheahan’s exclusive take on the day’s news every afternoon, with our free daily newsletter.