Unilever, one of the world’s largest consumer goods companies, announced that it will be closing its manufacturing plant in Hagerstown MD.
“Continually achieving greater efficiencies across our supply chain network is essential to our business,” said Steve Rosemary, director of manufacturing, Unilever Ice Cream. “An extensive and careful analysis has shown that greater efficiencies can be achieved by shifting production to other company plants in the United States. This decision was not easily made, and in no way reflects the dedication or performance of our colleagues at the Hagerstown facility.”
Production from Hagerstown—which manufactures Klondike, Popsicle, and Good Humor novelty ice cream, as well as Ben & Jerry’s cones and Breyers Fruit Bars—will be transferred to other sites within the Unilever network in several phases. Plant production is expected to finish by the end of 2011, with the final plant closing expected to occur during that same time period.
The decision to close the plant will affect 460 salaried and hourly employees. Unilever employs nearly 12,000 people in both the United States and Puerto Rico, generating nearly $10 billion in sales in 2008. The firm’s US portfolio includes brand icons such as Ben & Jerry’s, Bertolli, Breyers, Country Crock, Klondike, Knorr, and Popsicle.
