Local leaders speak out as Kerry to close only Canadian plant

A food processing plant in Woodstock, Ont., is set to close its doors later this year.

Officials with Kerry, a multinational with interests in food, beverage, biotechnology, pharma and proactive health industries, say the company is transferring operations from its Woodstock facility to other sites.

“Once production is transferred, production will cease in Woodstock and the site will be closed,” likely in September, Kerry spokesperson Audrey Sahl told The Free Press in an email Wednesday.

“The company is committed to supporting employees and customers through the transition,” Sahl added.

The facility is Kerry’s only Canadian location. Its website lists other operations in Europe, Asia, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and the United States.

Woodstock economic development officer Brad Hammond said about 50 people will be out of work when the plant closes.

“Obviously we’re sad to see them leave,” Hammond said, noting products like powdered cheese and powdered butter are made at the plant.

“We feel bad for the families that are impacted by the closure. We know our local employment agency has been working to help those people find new jobs and we’re hopeful they will.”

Hammond said the 110,000-sf plant has strong potential to house a new operation.

“A portion of the building is refrigerated,” he said. “It’s built for food processing in terms of floor grains and wash stations and things like that, so that’s kind of the highest and best use for that building.”

Woodstock Mayor Jerry Acchione echoed that optimism.

“It’s a very unique building and highly specialized,” Acchione said. “I’m sure we’ll have a new business in there soon enough.”