The J. M. Smucker Co. to lay off employees
DGKN staff report
ORRVILLE Changes in consumer behavior increased further by the COVID-19 pandemic has caused The J. M. Smucker Co. to accelerate plans to better position the company for the future, which includes laying off employees and reshaping the brand portfolio.
Ray Hancart, director of communications and media relations at The J.M. Smucker Company, provided comments in an email to The Dalton Gazette & Kidron News about changes to better position the company for the future. The statement includes that “conversations are ongoing with employees” and affected employees will receive “severance support.”
The company has more than 7,000 employees and more than 30 manufacturing facilities and offices across North America, according to the website.
“Consumer behavior has evolved rapidly in recent years. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused an even greater acceleration of change to consumer behavior. To better position the company moving forward, we are accelerating the timing of plans to evolve our corporate organizational structure and ensure our brand portfolio is better positioned to meet changing consumer preferences,” according to the prepared statement. “This includes reshaping our brand portfolio, investing in growing areas of the business, and streamlining our corporate structure.
“The adjustments to our structure unfortunately will result in North American employees leaving our Company. Since conversations are ongoing with employees, we will not be sharing any more details. Decisions that negatively impact any of our employees are always difficult to make and are only made after careful consideration. Transitioning employees will receive severance support.”
For 120 years, The J. M. Smucker Company, headquartered in Orrville, has become a staple in families’ pantries, according to the website at www.jmsmucker.com. The J. M. Smucker Co. brands, including Folgers, Jif and Milk-Bone, are found in nearly 90 percent of U.S. homes and countless restaurants, the website states.
