Nestlé ceased production at the Thomy plant in the Neuss harbor on June 9, 2026. Remoulade was the last product to roll off the line before the site’s closure began. The company cites high costs, declining volumes, and excess capacity as reasons. As a result, around 145 employees are losing their current jobs. Large parts of production are being transferred to Lüdinghausen or other European plants.
Nestlé is relocating its largest production unit to Lüdinghausen
The production of mustard and mayonnaise in tubes is moving to Lüdinghausen in the Münsterland region. This segment accounted for around 90 percent of the previous volume at the Neuss site. Consequently, the company is investing approximately 13 million euros in a new filling line. In addition, the existing plant in Lüdinghausen is set to undergo technical modernization.
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Thirty additional jobs for employees from Neuss are being created at the new location. However, this does not fully offset the jobs being lost. Production of goods in jars and plastic bottles is set to move to other European countries in the future. The company also sought an external manufacturing solution for Thomy cooking oil.
Social plan aims to mitigate impact on 145 employees
The company and the works council agreed on a social plan back in May 2025. It includes severance packages, early retirement schemes, and provisions for employees nearing retirement age. In addition, the group is establishing a transition agency to assist with skills training and job searches.
However, the Food, Beverages and Catering Union (NGG) strongly criticized the decision, pointing to a lack of investment and past management decisions at the site. Nestlé, conversely, justifies the restructuring by citing the long-term competitiveness of its German plants. Plans for the closure had been public knowledge since March 2025.
Thomy to Remain on Store Shelves, but Neuss Loses Industrial Jobs
Despite the plant closure, the Thomy brand will not disappear from store shelves. According to the company, around 80 percent of its products will continue to be manufactured in German facilities. Nevertheless, a production history spanning more than a century is coming to an end in Neuss; for decades, mustard, mayonnaise, remoulade, and cooking oil were produced there.
The factory site at the Neuss harbor is now slated for sale. Talks with several interested parties are underway, though no specific plans for future use have been finalized yet. For Neuss, the priority is securing new, permanent jobs. However, until a new tenant moves in, the city is losing industrial value creation and established supplier relationships.
Author: Blackout News
Sources: News 89.4 (12.06.26) – Neuss-Grevenbricher Zeitung (11.06.26) – IHK Nord Westfalen (Stand: 17.06.26) – Nestlé (20.03.26)