Whyte's Foods Inc. Announces Relocation of Strub's Pickle Business
Production at Brantford, ON Plant to be Moved
LAVAL, QC, Oct. 23, 2012 /CNW/ - Whyte's Foods Inc. today announced it will be relocating its Brantford pickle facility. Beginning today, the Whyte's plant in Brantford, ON will start slowing production and moving towards a total closing of the plant in late January 2013. At that time, production of the full line of Strub's pickle products will be relocated to the Whyte's Quebec production facilities in St-Louis-sur-Richelieu and Laval. The relocation is the result of an extensive internal review by the Whyte's management team since the acquisition of the Strub's assets on June 18, 2012 through a bankruptcy court proceeding.
This relocation will affect the 43 full-time Brantford employees who were hired in June on short-term contracts by Whyte's when it purchased the Strub's brand and assets. Approximately one-third of the current positions at the Brantford plant will be phased out by December 21, 2012. Employees will be offered the opportunity to apply for a position at the Whyte's production facilities and distribution centre in Quebec to fill the anticipated 40 to 50 new jobs that will be created. Discussions with other local Brantford companies are underway to assist employees in finding new positions. In addition, all eligible employees are being given full severance packages and the Whyte's Human Resources team will work with employees to help them through this career transition.
"This was an extremely difficult decision for us to make and announce today as we purchased the Strub's assets with the goal of expanding our Whyte's production facilities into Ontario to serve our growing national base of customers," said Philippe Blondin, V.P. Procurement, Whyte's Foods Inc. "After 5 months of intensive analysis, we have concluded that relocating the production of Strub's products to our facilities in Quebec would enable us to compete more effectively with foreign competitors. We are working with our 43 employees -- hired in late June after we acquired the Strub's assets -- to help them through this transition. This restructuring allows us to continue to produce authentic Strub's pickles in Canada and to continue to deliver to our customers and consumers the tradition of excellence that Sophie Strub first created in 1929."
Whyte's plans to continue buying fresh peppers and cucumbers from Canadian growers.
"We are a proud Canadian company and we want to continue to support our local Canadian growers," said Mr. Blondin. "In fact, we anticipate increasing the number of fresh cucumbers that we purchase from Canadian growers and buying most of our peppers from Ontario growers, just as we did this year."
About Whyte's
Since opening its doors in 1892 as a small family-owned importer of fine food products, Whyte's has grown exponentially to become a leading food manufacturer and importer. Today, Whyte's Foods Inc. remains a privately-owned Canadian company with its head office in Laval, QC. Whyte's is operated by dedicated employees and a close-knit management team. Since 1932, Whyte's has been producing refrigerated pickles under the Mrs. Whyte's brand. Whyte's is also one of the largest olive packers based in North America, a significant international processor of maraschino cherries and a major manufacturer of ready-to-use sauces. Whyte's continues to be a leading importer of fine food products such as Dijon mustard, chocolate, capers, artichokes, roasted peppers and anchovies, olive and other speciality oils, balsamic vinegar and other specialty products. Whyte's manufactures products under Whyte's, Mrs. Whyte's, Coronation, Saroli and Strub's brands.
SOURCE: Whyte's Food Inc.
Diana Degan
Diana Degan & Associates
519-829-3804/416-871-5420
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