Lancaster Meat Facility Shutting Down, Nearly 200 Jobs Lost as Kunzler & Co. Closes Its Doors
LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) — Kunzler & Company, a staple in Lancaster’s meat industry, is closing its facility on December 7, 2024, resulting in 193 employees losing their jobs.
The company, which filed a WARN notice earlier this month with the Department of Labor & Industry, will cease operations at its Lancaster County location on 652 Manor Street.
The closure follows the acquisition of Kunzler & Company by Montgomery County-based pork processor Clemens Food Group in May 2024.
At the time of the acquisition, Clemens Food Group assured employees and customers that the Kunzler brand would continue to thrive under their leadership. However, the company had refrained from commenting on whether the entire workforce would remain intact.
In a statement to abc27 news, Clemens Food Group expressed their commitment to transparency: “We made a commitment to all Kunzler team members to be as transparent as possible about any potential changes to operations,” the statement read.
They acknowledged that the closure is “disappointing and distressing for those affected,” emphasizing the dedication and hard work of the team over the years.
The closure will coincide with the completion of production for contracted customers, and Clemens assured that work hours and shifts would remain consistent through to the facility’s final day.
“While operations are scheduled to end on December 7, we remain hopeful for a new plant ownership that could offer continued opportunities for the local workforce,” the company said.
Despite the closure, Clemens confirmed that Kunzler-branded products will continue to be produced by the company and remain available to retailers and consumers.
The closure marks a significant change for Lancaster, where Kunzler & Company has been a prominent figure in the local business community.
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