General Mills to close certain facilities in US, China, and Brazil

American consumer food products manufacturer General Mills has announced plans to close certain manufacturing facilities in the US, China and Brazil.

The closures are part of restructuring in its global supply chain and would result in 1,400 job cuts.

The manufacturing facility in Vineland, New Jersey, US, is expected to be closed by the first quarter of the 2018 fiscal year to eliminate excess soup capacity in its North America supply chain. Production activities at the plant will be transferred to other centres in the US.

The tentative decision is subject to negotiation with union officials and the closure of Vineland facility, which has been in operations since 2001, is expected to impact nearly 370 employees.

General Mills also announced an agreement to close the Marília manufacturing facility and distribution centre, as well as move the production out of the São Bernardo do Campo plant to other company facilities in Brazil.

The closure of the facilities in Marília will be completed by the end of 2019 fiscal year and would affect approximately 420 employees.

The company will also stop the production of Trix products that are produced at its Nanjing facility, China, by next year’s first quarter, but will continue to produce Bugles snacks.

General Mills also added that it has reached a tentative agreement with Mennel Milling to sell its plant in Martel, Ohio, which is pending negotiations with union officials.