Clemens Food Group Looks for Buyer for Kunzler Processing Plant
The Lancaster, Pa., former Kunzler & Co. meat-processing plant will be sold by Clemens Food Group, preferably to a new owner who would produce private-label hot dogs at the facility, according to a local news report. Clemens acquired Kunzler in May of this year, at which point it said it would keep the three Kunzler facilities. Now, it appears production of Kunzler products will shift elsewhere.
The union representing the 170 maintenance and production workers at the plant said the changes would cost the facility at least 60 jobs — and potentially more if private-label contracts were not renewed. The company told the news outlet that it was too early to claim particular outcomes of this sale and shift in production.
The report goes on to say that Clemens would move smoked meat production to its Montgomery County, Pa., plant, while a co-packer would pick up the production of Kunzler and Hatfield brand hot dogs for the next several months. Private label hot dog production would eventually resume at Lancaster.