Hunter
10/29/22
West Liberty Foods has announced it will be closing its Mount Pleasant meat processing and slicing facility next year.
A news release Friday indicates that the operation will be shut down by early May and 350 employees will lose their jobs. The first phase will affect 130 employees at the end of the year and the rest by May 7th.
Brian Melhus is general counsel for West Liberty Foods; he told the Gazette that the Mount Pleasant facility produces pre-sliced deli meats for customers in food service and retail. One of their main customers has decided to move its deli-slicing in store, lessening the importance of the plant.
West Liberty Foods chief talent and culture officer Tara Lindsay told the paper that employees will be offered work at one of its other locations as well as provided with relocation and transportation services, stay bonuses — in which West Liberty Foods gives employees a bonus for not leaving the company for a set time — severance pay, re-employment services and assistance with filing unemployment claims.
The company has plants in Bolingbrook Illinois and in Utah as well as their home base in West Liberty, where there are over 70 open positions listed.