KEY POINTS:
Griffin's closes the doors on its Lower Hutt biscuit factory for the last time today, putting 228 people out of work.
The company announced the factory's planned closure last year after 70 years in production, saying it could not justify the investment needed to upgrade ageing equipment at the site.
The factory stopped producing its classic biscuits and crackers last week and staff have spent the past few days dismantling equipment.
Griffin's said it would continue production at its newly revamped factory in Papakura, south Auckland.
The Service and Food Workers Union national secretary John Ryall said many of the workers have found new jobs, moved to Australia or retired, and few will be going on a benefit.
Mr Ryall said the Griffin's factory was the last large food processor in the Wellington area.
"Today is a pretty sad day," Mr Ryall said.
The company was established in Nelson by John Griffin in the 1860s.
The Lower Hutt factory was opened in 1938 and the Papakura factory in 1967.
- NZPA
