Although the fire caused €15m of damage, Budelpack had hoped to find a replacement facility close by. However, while the group "greatly regrets this", Budelpack International chief executive officer André Nieuwkerk says the decision has now been taken not to recommence operations in Wales.
He explains: "Not only would the cost of rebuilding the facility or starting up a new one been high, but sadly the plant lost over 50% of its business after the fire, and there is already significant contract packing overcapacity in Europe."
One of two UK contract packing operations run by Budlepack (the other, at March, Cambridgeshire serves the food sector), the Rhymney facility was a large producer and packer of household, cleaning and personal care products, as well as wipes and pharma goods.
Nieuwkerk adds: "We are assisting as many as we can of the 140 full-time staff to find other jobs."
Contract packing previously undertaken at Rhymney will be redeployed to Budelpack's other European sites.
