AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT WEST LIBERTY FOODS (02/19/24)

FEBRUARY 19, 2024 — 260 EMPLOYEES IN WEST LIBERTY, IOWA

The company has announced plans to phase out its ready-to-eat slicing operation and its second shift log fabrication operations in West Liberty during the coming year, which will result in the laying off of about a quarter of the workforce at the West Liberty facility.

Approximately 260 production jobs will be impacted during the phased layoffs in 2024.

According to President and CEO Brandon Achen, As a resident of this community, the decision to reduce production capacity in West Liberty was difficult and painful. We value the contributions of all team members and deeply regret the need for layoffs. We are committed to connecting each affected person with new employment opportunities and support.”

NOVEMBER 16, 2022 — Original post…

West Liberty, Iowa-based West Liberty Foods, a farmer-owned food company processing turkeys, has announced the closure of its processing facility in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, in May 2023. Operations at the Mount Pleasant plant will be transferred to facilities in Iowa, Illinois, and Utah.

The closure will impact approximately 350 employees whose layoffs are scheduled to occur on or before December 31, 2022.

According to President and CEO Brandon Achen, "Respect and care for people is a core value of our company, and shutting down a plant is a tough thing to do. We are sincerely grateful to the City of Mount Pleasant for its cooperation and support over the past 20 years. Our core business remains strong, and we will continue to adapt to meet the needs of our customers."

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 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

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?