Campbell Soup Company announces closure of Toronto plant

The Campbell Soup Company has announced that it will be closing its manufacturing facility in Toronto, Canada.

The closure will result in approximately 380 job losses. A representative of the company commented: “Several factors have resulted in excess capacity in Campbell’s North American thermal supply chain network, including significant productivity improvements and volume declines of canned soup in North America.

“Opened in 1931, Toronto is the oldest plant in the Campbell thermal network. Due to its size and age, the Toronto plant cannot be retrofit in a way that is competitively viable.”

Officials say Canadian soup and broth production will be moved to the company’s plants in North Carolina, Ohio and Texas. The company says it plans on keeping the Toronto facility, open for up to 18 months and that the shutdown will occur in phases.

The Toronto plant also serves as the company’s Canadian headquarters and houses its commercial operations too. The statement said the headquarters and close to 200 related jobs will move to an undetermined location in the Greater Toronto Area. It will also include a new “food innovation centre.”

The company will offer impacted employees severance packages and career counselling. Officials say job fairs and financial planning workshops will also be provided.

Ana Dominguez, president of Campbell Canada, commented: “Today is a tough day. We are committed to treating our employees with the respect and fairness they deserve. Despite this decision, Canada is important to Campbell.

“We are remaining in Canada and will continue to make important contributions to the food industry in this country.”

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