After 12 years watching over the Manchester Christmas Markets the iconic town hall Santa has a new role at the Kellogg’s Factory on Trafford Park.

In August it was announced the Father Christmas figure – locally nicknamed Zippy – would be removed from this year’s markets. Saddened by the news employees at Kellogg’s were reluctant to see him go.

Staff at the Park Road factory appealed to Manchester City Council to save Zippy and light him up one last time at this year’s Kellogg’s Christmas lights display.

Weighing in at six tonnes, Zippy usually takes five days to build ahead of his festive stint. However Kellogg’s employees have worked around the clock to build him piece by piece in just three days. The Manchester Santa will now make his debut on the 29th November at 6pm.

With Zippy being the equivalent weight of a fully-grown African elephant, Kellogg’s were forced to hire a 50 Tonne crane to lift Zippy to his proud new home. He will sit alongside the illuminated Manchester Bees added to the factory Christmas lights in 2018.

Engineer, Chris Cohen, from Kellogg’s Manchester factory, who has been working on the project, said: “For the last 30 years I have decorated the Kellogg’s factory for Christmas.

“Zippy is such a significant icon. It has been challenging, we have used all the original drawings and worked with the team who have constructed him for the last 12 years to learn from their experience.”

In return for Zippy, Kellogg’s will support Manchester City Council by funding two food poverty projects to help the most vulnerable residents in the city.

Kellogg’s factory director, Paul Wrigley, added: “I am really proud we have been chosen to give Zippy the next stage of his career. This year we have created 40 new roles in the plant with 11 apprentices having just joined us in the last week, Zippy is a great last addition to our team in 2019.

“It’s fantastic that in the process we are helping to support charitable causes alongside the city council in 2020.”

Kellogg’s works with many charities and schools across Manchester, donating food to FareShare, The Bread and Butter Thing and many food banks.

There are over 400 employees at Kellogg’s Manchester factory making it the largest cereal factory in Europe. Built in 1938, the local landmark, measures 119,000m2, this is around one and half times bigger than Buckingham Palace.

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