Dean Foods, Dallas, says it's closing its fluid milk processing plant in Richmond, Va. to "remove redundancy" in its operations. The company is eliminating 7 positions in the process, part of a company-wide plan to consolidate operations cut costs amid competitive pressures in the milk business.
"Production will be phased out over the next few months, and approximately 75 positions will be eliminated," the company stated. "We regret the impact that this result will have on our employees and our community."
The company will move the production to plants in High Point, N.C., and Winston-Salem, N.C. Its PET products will continue to be available in the Richmond region, Dean Foods said.
“We regret the impact this result will have on our employees and our community,” Dean Foods said. “The decision to eliminate jobs in any part of our business is never an easy one. This move does not reflect the quality of work performed by our employees, but rather reflects the need to remove redundancy in our operations.”
A spokeswoman for Dean Foods reported that the company licensed the PET brand in 1988 and has been operating at the Richmond plant since 2008. Dean Foods operates 70 production facilities and is one of the nation’s leading processors and distributors of fluid milk, which it distributes under more than 50 regional brands and private labels. The company also distributes ice cream, juices, teas, bottled water and other products.
