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CLEARFIELD — Kellogg Co. is planning to shut down its plant inside the Freeport Center by the end of November 2015. Two hundred employees who work there were informed of the decision Monday. According to a statement sent to KSL, the layoffs are part of a global four-year "efficiency and effectiveness program," designed to "help unlock cost savings" and grow the business.
Clearfield assistant city manager J.J. Allen says he was surprised to hear about the plans, though he's confident more jobs will come in to replace those lost.
"We're confident that the Freeport Center will be able to lease that space when it becomes vacant," Allen explained. "Another company will come in right behind, and we'll still continue to have a lot of employment here in Clearfield."
The plant, which specializes in producing frozen vegetarian foods, opened in 1998. Those products will still be made, Alistair Hirst, senior vice president of Kellogg's Global Supply Chain, said in the statement.
"We have evaluated our MorningStar Farms and Gardenburger Frozen Foods network to ensure that we are continuing to meet retailer and consumer demands,” Hirst said. “As a result, we are making changes to the network that will leave us with more capacity than we need."
Hirst also said that the company is working with the 200 Clearfield-based employees to help them through the transition.
"We carefully considered all of our options before making this difficult decision," Hirst said. "It is in no way a reflection on our Clearfield employees.”
