Nestlé to Close Two US Health Science Plants, Layoffs Imminent

Nestlé revealed it will close two of its Health Science plants in the United States. The Swiss company explained that this move is a strategy to increase efficiency in its health nutrition business unit.

Nestlé Health Science is the company’s division that is focused on the research, development, and manufacturing of healthy and medical nutrition products. It is mainly known for its Nutren and Meritene brands. At any rate, it is said to be currently in the process of bringing together its supply chain network to boost efficiency.

The company issued a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN), and Nestlé Health Science’s director of project management and HR special projects, Chris Richardson, said in the memo that due to the closure of their two facilities, more than 300 employees are set to lose their jobs.

To be more exact, Richardson stated in the WARN that “312 positions will be eliminated on a permanent basis.” The two plants that would be shut down are those located in Findlay and Robinson Township, and the job cuts are expected to begin in late June.

“There are no bumping rights at the impacted facility. The employees have no elected collective bargaining representative,” the project management director added.

According to Penn Live News, Nestlé Health Sciences filed the WARN notice at the Pennsylvania Department of Industry. It was indicated in the memo that the company’s facilities at 600 Boyce Road, under the name of HVL LLC, and 112 Technology Drive in Pittsburgh, listed under the name Pure Encapsulations are set to cease operations.

The WARN Act is a government regulation that protects employees, communities, and even the families of workers in the U.S. This law provides protection by requiring companies and other employers to notify everyone if they are planning to close business. It is a must for this type of notice to be posted 60 days in advance.