The Hershey Company has announced that it will shutdown the Brookside Foods’ factory in Abbotsford in Canada, as part of its efforts to restructure its manufacturing operations.
The move may result in 180 job cuts at the facility and the company will move the production to other plants.
An official has informed the employees that the factory will close in October this year, Abbotsford News reported.
The company said that a significant part of the production at the plant will be shifted to its facility in St. Hyacinthe, Quebec, while the remaining will be moved to its factory in Robinson, Illinois.
Hershey said: "This decision was part of a comprehensive review of our manufacturing operations to find the most efficient and effective ways to manufacture Brookside products while continuing to meet consumer needs now and into the future."
Hershey purchased Brookside Foods, a privately held confectionery company based in Abbotsford, in 2011.
At the time of acquisition, the Brookside product line was primarily sold in the US and Canada in a take home re-sealable pack type. Its annual net sales of the business were approximately CAD85m.
Brookside was manufacturing chocolate-covered fruit juice pieces. It held patents that enabled it to make the centers of the products from real fruit juice.
Hershey added: "We appreciate the outstanding work and dedication of the Abbotsford employees over the years. Their efforts have contributed to making Brookside an international success. We recognize that this decision will impact employee's lives and we are dedicated to easing the transition for displaced workers."
