Country Fresh restructuring Ohio dairy plant

Country Fresh plans to restructure its dairy processing plant in Toledo OH. The plant's milk and soft-serve ice cream processing capacity will be transferred to another Country Fresh plant within about a 65-mile radius. Distribution and sales operations out of the Toledo location will remain uninterrupted.

Restructuring includes a staff reduction of some 70 positions. Many of these employees will have the opportunity to relocate to other plants in Ohio, including Frostbite in Toledo, or in neighboring states. Country Fresh management will be negotiating with union leaders a severance package with benefits including outplacement support and assistance for employees unable to move to another plant. Employees not covered by a collective bargaining agreement also will receive transition assistance including outplacement support.

A number of employees will remain in place to run the facility's continuing sales and distribution operations. Production is expected to cease in January 2003.