103 jobs are to go at Unilver's Purfleet plant, though the company is to make a £7m investment in the site over the next two years.

The news comes seven months after the company announced it was launching a review of the operation at Purfleet, where around 300 people are employed.

Factory manager Peter McMorris said: "The management team has worked closely with the local review group to engage all employees on the challenges the site faces and our proposed plans for change.

advertisement"Today's announcement brings to an end a period of uncertainty and will allow us to turn our attention to consulting on and implementing the changes that need to be made to secure the site's long term future.

"In doing this, we will work closely with employee representatives to ensure that we provide all the necessary support and help to assist our employees at this difficult time.

"It is our intention to begin the consultation process as soon as possible and we will be meeting with employee representatives in the next few days to agree the best approach to achieving the changes that need to be made."

The company says with will be investing £7million over the next two years to improve the site's technological capabilities but will also implement changes including a move to five-day manufacturing.

Among the well known brands of spreads produced at Purfleet are Flora, Flora proActiv, Bertolli, Stork, and I Can't Believe It's Not Butter!

Around 300 people are employed at the Purfleet factory, which is one of the biggest employers in Thurrock and was previously known as Van den Bergh Foods or Van den Bergh and Jurgens.