Conagra Brands, a leading American food producer, has announced plans to close its Birds Eye frozen vegetables factory in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin.
The decision is set to affect the entire workforce of 252 at the facility, as revealed in a WARN notice submitted by the company on Monday (8 April).
Conagra stated its intention to halt operations at the site as part of efforts to “improve efficiencies and effectiveness within its supply chain network”.
The cessation of production is scheduled for 10 June, with warehouse activities projected to conclude around 3 January 2025.
Out of the total number of employees, 227 are involved in production and support roles at the Birds Eye plant, and 25 are in managerial or administrative positions.
The notice outlined that “employee separations” would occur in five stages, starting from 10 June and culminating with the warehouse’s shutdown next year.
In recent financial updates, Conagra reported a 1.7% decrease in net sales for the third quarter to $3.03 billion, with organic net sales experiencing a 2% decline.
The company’s net sales for the nine-month period similarly fell by 1.7% to $9.1 billion, with a 1.9% organic reduction.
The operating profit for the third quarter was recorded at $471.4 million, down from $490 million in the previous year. The adjusted operating profit was $498.4 million, compared to $522.3 million in the same quarter of the previous year.
In January, following its second-quarter earnings release, Conagra adjusted its annual net sales expectations in light of waning consumer demand. The company anticipated a 1-2% decrease in annual net sales on an organic basis, a revision from its earlier prediction of a 1% increase. This revised forecast was reaffirmed with the publication of the third-quarter results earlier this month.
Additionally, during the announcement of its second-quarter figures, the company, known for its Slim Jerky and Hunts tinned tomatoes, informed analysts of its “robust and multifaceted” investment strategy for 2024, despite reporting reductions in profit and sales outlook for the year.
CEO Sean Connolly elaborated on the investment plans, stating Conagra was committed to allocating an unspecified amount towards innovation, merchandising, and advertising in an effort to “build momentum with consumers”.