The announcement follows Clemens Food Group’s acquisition of Kunzler in May, which brought two additional facilities in Tyrone, Pennsylvania, under its umbrella, according to Stephanie Simon, Clemens’ senior communications manager. At the time of the acquisition, Clemens Food Group had already planned to consolidate Kunzler’s smoked meats production into its new, state-of-the-art facility in Hatfield, Pennsylvania. This strategic move, announced in July, aimed to streamline operations and enhance efficiency within the newly expanded Clemens Food Group.
Further adjustments outlined in July included shifting the production of both Hatfield and Kunzler-branded frankfurters to a co-packing partner. However, Clemens Food Group initially intended to maintain a significant portion of frankfurter production at the Lancaster plant. Despite these initial plans, the company has now decided to close the Lancaster plant entirely as it continues discussions for a potential sale of the facility.
Clemens Food Group expressed hope that a new owner would provide continued employment opportunities for the Lancaster workforce. “We do want to reiterate that with the imminent closure taking place, we remain hopeful that any subsequent owner of the plant will create new opportunities for impacted team members, and we are now focusing our efforts on ensuring that the workers directly affected are supported through this transition,” Simon stated.
Approximately 75% of the affected workforce are members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 152 union. The union and Clemens Food Group have had a strained relationship since the acquisition. Prior to the acquisition, Local 152 was in the process of negotiating a new contract with Kunzler. These negotiations continued with Clemens Food Group after the acquisition in May, with the union attempting to prevent the relocation of production from the Lancaster plant.
In response to the closure announcement, Local 152 filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board the previous week. The union alleges that Clemens Food Group failed to provide requested information regarding the acquisition, production transfer, and the planned sale of the Lancaster facility dating back to June. Local 152 President Dan Ross Jr. criticized Clemens Food Group’s actions in an October 7 letter to Clemens President Brad Clemens, accusing the company of delaying tactics, inconsistent communication, and a lack of genuine intent to bargain with the union or preserve jobs in Lancaster.
Most recently, on Wednesday, Clemens Food Group offered two weeks of severance pay to employees who remain until the plant’s closure. However, this offer was rejected by Local 152, indicating the ongoing tension and unresolved issues between the union and Clemens Food Group as the Lancaster plant prepares to cease operations.
