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.
About the Author
Andy Hanacek
Senior Editor
Andy Hanacek has covered meat, poultry, bakery and snack foods as a B2B editor for nearly 20 years, and has toured hundreds of processing plants and food companies, sharing stories of innovation and technological advancement throughout the food supply chain. In 2018, he won a Folio:Eddie Award for his unique "From the Editor's Desk" video blogs, and he has brought home additional awards from Folio and ASBPE over the years. In addition, Hanacek led the Meat Industry Hall of Fame for several years and was vice president of communications for We R Food Safety, a food safety software and consulting company.