The Japanese cosmetics group Shiseido is to reorganise production and R&D bases as part of restructuring to meet changed economic conditions. The 50 year old Kamakura plant in Japan will close in early 2015 leaving the Kuki, Kakegawa and Osaka units in position.
Production from the Kamakura unit will end in December 2014 and be switched to the Kakegawa, Osaka and Vietnam plants. The Vietnam plant will take over production of medium and low priced skin care and other products and will become the core plant in this sector focused on the Asean and Japanese markets.
The two R&D centres in Shin-Yokohama and Kanazawahakkei will merge, leaving the centre at Shin-Yokohama carrying on an integrated research programme on nutraceuticals, dermatology and pharmaceuticals. Shiseido says the reorganisation is expected to generate a one-off loss of about €487m.