There was no room for sentiment when Heinz decided the fate of Birmingham's iconic HP Foods plant.
It may be a landmark but for the food giant, which bought the HP business from Danone last year, harsh economic reality prevailed when it came to its decision about the Aston plant.
The factory operates just three days a week and, according to Heinz, that spare capacity is available at its European manufacturing site in Holland.
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That means the Aston site will shut by March next year, with the loss of about 125 jobs, while the bottling operation for Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce will return to its site in Worcester.
Heinz is believed to have beaten off competition from UK rivals Premier Foods and Associated British Foods to land HP, which also makes Daddies sauce.
David Hobin, Heinz vice-president with responsibility for manufacturing, said the company accepted its plans would cause concern in Birmingham.
"However, this proposal is made in the context that there is excess capacity at the Elst manufacturing site (in Holland) and sustaining the Aston site, which normally operates only three days per week, is not viable," he said.
"By closing Aston, it will be possible to redirect funds into more modern facilities at our production site in Elst, enhancing efficiency and productivity still further in order to better meet customer and consumer needs."
While unions accused Heinz of breaking its word and the closure plan goes out to consultation, business and council leaders said it highlighted the shift from manufacturing to service industries.
John Lamb, from the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said it was sad such a well-known brand would no longer be produced in the city but that those willing to re-train would find other work.
Mr Lamb said: "It is obviously devastating that such an iconic Birmingham brand is going. It is a very visible place as you come in on the main thoroughfare to Birmingham and it is a great pity it is going to close with the loss of about 125 jobs.
"This is really another legacy of firms consolidating. HP is now part of Heinz and the whole sauce industry is pretty much a monopoly run by the Heinz corporation."
Mr Lamb said the loss would not be anything like that caused by the slow demise of car manufacturing in the region in recent years.
"It is nothing like the scale MG Rover or Peugeot or Jaguar but nevertheless it is very sad that a brand like that is going.
"It is very sad that more jobs will be lost in the city and the region but there is a massive skills shortage out there and those who are prepared to retrain will find other jobs."
Ken Hardeman, the city council cabinet member for regeneration, said there was little the local authority could do to make Heinz change its mind.
Coun Hardeman (Con Brandwood), who was born in Aston, described the decision as another blow for the inner city area, which already suffers from high unemployment and deprivation.
"HP Sauce has a special place in my heart because I grew up with the smell of it. Now it is about to disappear from Birmingham, and I can hardly believe it," he said.
"Clearly it is a blow when a company associated with Birmingham for more than 100 years decides to move out of the city. But this is a business decision based on an uneconomic site and the council will be unable to make the company change its mind, as much as we would like to.
"The council will be doing everything possible to work with the company to make sure that all of those losing their jobs are helped to find alternative employment." ..SUPL:
