Green Mountain Coffee to close Toronto facility, affecting 120 jobs
by The Canadian Press
U.S. firm expects plant to close by March 2014; consolidating Canadian operations in Montreal
MONTREAL—Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc. is closing its Toronto facility and putting 120 employees out of work as it consolidates production at its Montreal plant to support its growth in Canada.
The Vermont-based company, known for its Keurig brand single cup coffee pods, said it expects the Toronto facility to close by March 5, 2014.
“After careful analysis of facility-specific operational costs and the Toronto facility’s inability to expand to accommodate future growth, it was clear that consolidating our Canadian-based production to our Montreal facility is the right business decision to support our strong and growing presence in Canada,” said president and CEO Brian Kelley in a news release.
“We recognize the impact that this action has on our employees and their families and intend to support them through the transition process.”
Kelley said Green Mountain Coffee has expanded its Montreal facility by 40 per cent this fiscal year.
The company said the closure will result in a one-time, pre-tax charge in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2013, but added that the impact of the charge won’t play into its financial results in fiscal 2013.
Green Mountain Coffee said it will manufacture all of the licensed, Keurig Brewed K-Cup and Vue packs for use in its Keurig brewers in seven facilities in the United States and at the Montreal plant.
The company said it employs about 6,250 regular and temporary employees globally.
