AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT BEYOND MEAT (05/12/23)

MAY 16, 2023 — MAJOR TROUBLE AHEAD

Financial problems and a contamination issue send shares plummeting forcing the company to engage Goldman Sachs to sell up to $200 million worth of its shares, or equivalent to about 30% of its market cap after a major stock price decline.

Leaked internal documents revealed the company's Pennsylvania processing plant was contaminated with mold, deadly bacteria, and other toxic substances. The documents noted that documents detail how wood, plastic, metal, string, and other substances found their way into products.

“Photos taken by a former employee from inside the plant in January and April show what appear to be spills, unsafe use of equipment, and mold on walls and ingredient containers, while spreadsheets, photos, and internally prepared reports reveal that foreign materials such as string, metal, wood, and plastic have been found in food from the plant at least as recently as last December.”

OCTOBER 20, 2022 — Original post…

El Segundo, California-based Beyond Meat, a producer of plant-based meat substitutes, has announced a major reduction in force as part of a cost containment initiative.

The reduction in force will impact 200 employees or approximately 19% of the Company's total global workforce.

President and CEO Ethan Brown noted, “Beyond Meat is implementing measures to drive more sustainable growth, emphasizing the achievement of cash flow positive operations within the second half of 2023. While we believe the current headwinds facing our business and category—including record inflation—are transient, our mission, brand, and long-term opportunity endure. To manage through the current environment and realize the opportunity ahead, we are significantly reducing expenses and sharpening our focus on a set of key growth priorities.”

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?

AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT HELLOFRESH (03/19/25)

MARCH 19, 2025 — 273 EMPLOYEES IN GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS

The company is consolidating regional operations in Irving, Texas, and closing its distribution center in Grand Prairie, Texas.

The closure will impact 273 employees.

According to a company spokesperson, “As the meal kit market normalizes, we are now focused on diversifying our product offerings and driving profitable growth by optimizing our operational footprint. As a result, we have made the difficult decision to consolidate our operations in Texas. The Irving site is the most technologically advanced fulfillment center, enabling us to offer more choice and customization to our customers.”

MAY 11, 2024 — 727 EMPLOYEES IN NEWMAN, GEORGIA

The company has announced that it will close its Newnan, Georgia, distribution center on July 10, 2024, and lay off 727 employees.

According to a company spokesperson, “As the meal-kit segment has stabilized, we are now focused on diversifying our offerings and optimizing our operations network to best serve our customers and grow profitably. As a result, we have made the difficult decision to cease operations at the Newnan distribution center and will leverage existing sites across the U.S. to serve our customer base.”

“We have been proud to be a part of the Newnan community since opening our doors in 2020. We remain committed to serving the local community with food donations in partnership with Second Helpings Atlanta, Pratt Industries, and the Atlanta City Council through the end of the year.”

OCTOBER 19, 2022 — Original post…

Berlin, Germany-based HelloFresh, a pre-portioned meal-kit provider in the United States, has announced the permanent closure of its 109,594-square-foot production facility in Richmond, California.

The closure on December 11, 2022, will impact 611 employees.

A company spokesperson noted, “Richmond is one of the oldest buildings in the U.S. network and has one of the smallest footprints, an inefficient layout, and outdated refrigeration systems. Given the outdated state of the facility, HelloFresh will focus its efforts on its newer, more efficient sites and shift the production of EveryPlate to our other distribution centers."

"The decision not to extend the lease is not a reflection of the local teams’ performance, and we are grateful for their contributions. We have a robust plan in place to ensure everyone is supported through this transition."

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?

AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT WELLS ENTERPRISES

Le Mars, Iowa-baed Wells Enterprises, an American food company specializing in ice cream and specialties, has announced a reduction in force to support planned scaled-back operations in its Dunkirk, New York facility.

The reduction in force will impact 319 employees commencing on December 31, 2022.

According to a company spokesperson, "Wells Enterprises is always evaluating and evolving our business strategies to ensure the long-term sustainability of our organization and to meet consumer demand for our products."

"As market trends shift in our industry, we adapt and optimize our operations to ensure the continued success of our business. We recently completed a comprehensive review of our manufacturing footprint and our needs to support our overall business strategy. As a result, we have made the difficult decision to scale back operations at our Dunkirk, New York facility in 2023 to 5 production lines. Our intention is to continue our normal operations for the remainder of 2022."

"We are still working through communicating specific details to our employees including the impact and transition plans. Dunkirk remains strategically important for our organization. We are committed to supporting every team member affected by providing transitional benefits and outplacement assistance."

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?