Unilever, one of the world’s largest consumer goods companies, on December 11 announced that it will be closing its manufacturing plant in City of Industry, Calif., and shifting production to other company facilities in the United States.
“Continually achieving greater efficiencies across our supply chain network is essential to our business,” said supply leader Dennis Myers. “An extensive and careful analysis has shown that greater efficiencies can be achieved by shifting production to other company plants in the U.S. This decision was not easily made, and in no way reflects the dedication or performance of our colleagues at the City of Industry facility.”
Production from City of Industry, which manufactures Unilever personal care brands such as Dove, Suave and AXE, will be transferred to Unilever sites in Jefferson City, Mo., and Raeford, N.C., in several phases beginning by the second quarter of 2010 and to be completed in the third quarter of 2010. City of Industry plant production is expected to finish during the third quarter of 2010 with the final plant closing expected to occur during that same time period.
The decision to close the plant will affect 61 salaried and hourly employees.
About Unilever
In the United States, Unilever’s major brands include: Axe, Ben & Jerry's, Bertolli, Breyers, Caress, Country Crock, Degree, Dove personal care products, Hellmann's, Klondike, Knorr, Lipton, Popsicle, Promise, Q-Tips, Skippy, Slim-Fast, Suave, Sunsilk and Vaseline. Unilever employs nearly 12,000 people in both the United States and Puerto Rico, generating nearly $10 billion in sales in 2008.
