Hillshire Brands food processing plant to close in 2014.
FLORENCE – In one of the more bizarre plant-closing announcements, Hillshire Brands food processing plant will be empty by the end of this year. Most of the eleven-hundred employees of the plant, which has been operating under one name or the other since the late 1930’s, found out by hearing news reports this morning.
The Quad-Cities Daily was at a Keep The Shoals Beautiful meeting this morning and managed to get a reaction from Florence City Council Member, Dick Jordan.
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Here is the text of the media release from Hillshire Brands headquarters in Chicago:
“CHICAGO, Ill. (April 4, 2014) – The Hillshire Brands Company today announced that it will discontinue all production at its Florence, Ala., facility, located at 700 S. Wood Ave., by Dec. 30, 2014. This decision will impact approximately 1,100 employees.
After a comprehensive business evaluation, The Hillshire Brands Company determined that production from this facility will be sourced from other locations within the Hillshire Brands operations network. Presently, the Florence plant houses breakfast sandwich and breakfast sausage cooking operations.
“Closing our Florence facility was a very difficult decision to make,” said Tom Hayes, chief supply chain officer, The Hillshire Brands Company. “For many years, these employees dedicated themselves to running a quality operation, which they have done exceptionally well. Unfortunately, after looking at our business, we determined that this facility will not allow us to meet our efficiency or long-term profitability expectations. ”
The Hillshire Brands Company will provide severance and outplacement assistance to employees consistent with its company policies. The company will also coordinate efforts with state and local training and employment agencies to help facilitate and ease the transition for affected employees.
About The Hillshire Brands Company
The Hillshire Brands Company (NYSE: HSH) is a leader in branded foods. The company generated approximately $4 billion in annual sales in fiscal 2013, has more than 9,000 employees, and is based in Chicago. Hillshire Brands’ portfolio includes iconic brands such as Jimmy Dean, Ball Park, Hillshire Farm, State Fair, Sara Lee frozen bakery and Chef Pierre pies, as well as artisanal brands Aidells, Gallo Salame and Golden Island premium jerky. For more information on the company, please visitwww.hillshirebrands.com.”
1 comment
As more jobs leave the area, what “jobs” are they re-training these people to do? This is a statement made everytime when a plant closes, yet no one can tell you what this “re-training” involves, or where these people will work. Jobs moving away, dangerous drugs moving in, never thought i’d see the shoals area “grow” in this way. Sad, just sad.