Kraft Tells Schumer That Cool Whip Plant In Avon Is Unlikely To Close
Kraft announced last week that it will cut 6,000 jobs but didn't specify which companies would be affected; Cool Whip plant in Avon employs 500
Schumer lobbied officials at Kraft to protect New York jobs; Company said Avon plant is not a priority for closure since it is home to the only Cool Whip manufacturing operation in the US and Canada
US Senator Charles E. Schumer announced today that he has received assurances from Kraft Senior Vice President and General Counsel Mark Firestone that the Cool Whip plant in Avon is not a priority for closure. After Kraft announced last week that it will be making significant unspecified cuts to its workforce, there were concerns that the Livingston County plant was in jeopardy, leading Schumer to lobby the company to keep them.
"The good news is that the Cool Whip plant is not likely to close as part of the new wave of cuts Kraft just announced," Schumer said. "I had a frank discussion with Kraft and explained to them that these jobs are vital to Livingston County and the Rochester area, and that it makes no sense to cut jobs at the only Cool Whip manufacturing operation in the country. He said that he understood, and that the Avon plant is not a priority for closure. There are no guarantees, but it looks like the plant is safe right now and we'll keep up the pressure until that's definite."
Kraft Foods said last week that it will cut 6,000 jobs, or 6 percent of its workforce, and close 20 plants worldwide in the next three years. The company has 218 manufacturing plants, 100 of which are in North America, including the one based in Avon. After learning of the restructuring plan, Schumer called Firestone Tuesday and Friday to push him to keep the Cool Whip plant in Livingston County open. Firestone told Schumer that since the Cool Whip plant in Avon is home to the only Cool Whip manufacturing operation in the United States and Canada, it is not a priority for closure.
With more than 500 employees, Kraft is Livingston Countys largest privatesector employer, manufacturing Cool Whip and Oscar Mayer Lunchables. Kraft is based in Chicago and celebrated its centennial in 2003. It owns many other product lines, including wellknown ones such as Nabisco, Oreo, Maxwell House, JellO, Oscar Mayer, Grey Poupon, Post cereals, Planters and Life Savers.
