More than 480 people working for Schwebel’s bakeries in Ohio will lose their jobs when the 120-year-old business closes this summer, state records show.
Ryan Hutchison, director of Schwebel’s human resources, filed WARN paperwork June 17 with state and local officials in Mahoning and Licking counties, where Schwebel’s largest facilities are located.
The paperwork is only required at sites where more than 100 full-time employees will lose their jobs. Thirteen smaller Schwebel sites, including one in Cuyahoga Falls, are closing, too, but it’s unclear how many employees at those facilities will be out of work in addition to the 480 at Schwebel’s primary sites.
Generations of Ohians grew up eating the soft, white sandwich bread produced by the Youngstown-based bakey. The company’s earworm jingle usually begins with children singing the words: “We want Schwebel’s. We want Schwebel’s. No other labels will do.”
Schwebel’s announced earlier this month it planned on liquidating its business after years of significant operational and financial constraints, labor costs and pension obligations, and changing consumer tastes.
Layoffs are expected to begin the week of July 6 and continue through Labor Day weekend, Hutchinson wrote in the letter.
Schwebel’s once made bread in Cuyahoga Falls, but closed its production facility in 2013. It still maintains some sort of facility on Reed Avenue and that will be shuttered, too, Hutchinson wrote.
The largest facilities are in Youngstown and Hebron, which is about 30 miles east of downtown Columbus.
employees to be terminated by Labor Day. These layoffs are permanent. Schwebel’s was unable to issue this
notification sooner because doing so would have deterred potential investors or buyers from due consideration.
, white sandwich bread once made some of its bread in Cuyahoga Falls, but ended production there in 2013. It maintains some part of its business on Reed Avenue in Cuyahoga Falls, which is among the 13 smaller sites where people will lose their jobs.
While we do not
know how creditors and other constituents will respond to this development, we expect layoffs will begin the
week of July 6 and, barring unforeseen circumstances, proceed through the Labor Day weekend, with all
employees to be terminated by Labor Day. These layoffs are permanent. Schwebel’s was unable to issue this
notification sooner because doing so would have deterred potential investors or buyers from due consideration.
It’s unclear how many people work at the smaller 13 Schwebel sites.
Directo
Warn notices show losing 370 in youngstown 110 in Hebron ohio
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: More than 480 Ohioans will be out of work when Schwebel’s closes
Reporting by Amanda Garrett, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Amanda Garrett, Akron Beacon Journal | USA TODAY Network
