The nation's biggest manufacturing site for Kellogg's snacks began laying off employees in Cary this morning as part of a corporate reorganization.
The Battle Creek, Mich.-based company is moving ahead with plans to cut $1 billion in annual costs, but spokesman Kris Charles would not disclose the number of local jobs to be cut.
"As we simplify and standardize our processes at the Cary bakery, some jobs were impacted," Charles said. "Affected employees were notified today."
Two years ago Kellogg's, the nation's biggest cereal maker, announced an expansion of 180 jobs at the Cary plant that would bring staffing there to 800 people.
The facility manufactures Keebler crakers, Cheez-It crackers, Zoo animal crackers, Austin cookies, among other products. Earlier this year the plant suspended production of all peanut butter products during an outbreak of salmonella that sickened hundreds of people.
John Murawski has been a full-time newspaper reporter since 1991, with stints at Legal Times and The Chronicle of Philanthropy (both in Washington, DC), The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Palm Beach Post (in South Florida) before arriving at the N&O in December 2004. At the N&O he covers energy (nuclear, coal, renewable, efficiency), hydralic fracturing (or "fracking"), public utilities (both electric and natural gas) and health care. His beat includes Progress Energy, PSNC Energy, Piedmont Natural Gas, PowerSecure International, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Biogen Idec and others. You can reach him at 919-829-8932 or
Comments
WHY?
Fri, 11/20/2009 - 00:41 — eddywijayaKellog seem left behind to layoff because big company already doin the same a few month ago. Like Western Digital that I work with, currently start positively growing up. Pity to Kellog.
score a programme
PLANT CLOSING
Thu, 11/19/2009 - 23:05 — angus01The FEDERAL 60 day closing LAW applies even in non union North Carolina ! Why didn't the reporter mention this fact in their story ?
Prisoners and Travel
Thu, 11/19/2009 - 21:12 — anna1142Gov. Purdue is too busy trying to find more laws that she don't believe in to disobey. Also trying to find more places to travel on order to spend taxpayer money that we don't have!
Funny she spent all those years as a lawmaker, and now tries to impose her beliefs rather than follow the law.
Maybe we should just follow the laws we like! Wonder how far we will get with that?
The Kellog Layoffs at Cary
Thu, 11/19/2009 - 17:55 — bigsurmac"Two years ago Kellogg's, the nation's biggest cereal maker, announced an expansion of 180 jobs at the Cary plant that would bring staffing there to 800 people."
The recession had already started, meaning the Kellogg expansion could not have been more poorly timed.
Can any of these IDIOT OBAMA-BASHERS READ???
An unknown Senator from Illinois -- the ultimate "political dark horse" had just started campaigning as a complete Democratic Presidential Candidate underdog in Iowa.
With no money, no wealthy family, no colonial heritage, no organization and facing the strongest political organization in the nation from Day One -- When Kellog made this realignment announcement, BARACK OBAMA was not even in the national picture.
But the idiots insist upon blaming him for their hangnails, migraines, timid digestions, involuntarily expelling gas and political fantasies.
President Obama does not walk on water -- and I have never met anyone who feels he does. But, he has marshalled the largest and most widely diversified groups of competent professionals in every discipline to help guide this country our of the mess created by DubYah and the Draft Dodgers.
The policies which are clearly working are the results of hundreds of proven professionals combining their brainpower and experience in the service of their country. The President has not been able to get the career GOP politicians to join in solving the many problems created by "their president," but from many who place their country above political party affiliation, there has been tremendous service and help.
This is in total contrast to Shoot From the Hip and Lip policies of the Crawford Cowboy, who truly reaches the level described with original application of the derogatory term -- COWBOY.
COWBOY -- Usually a western livestock production [Ranching] world neophyte, who abuses horses, chases cattle through fences and rough country, wrecks equipment, fences and buildings, and squanders to outfit's resources.
Somehow, Crawford Cowboy fits.
Premature
Thu, 11/19/2009 - 15:19 — stevemichaelsBiden/Obama indicating the recession is over is just as untimely and disturbing as Bush indicating "mission accomplished" - who is advising all these idiots the 3 stooges?
Isn't that special?!?!
Thu, 11/19/2009 - 15:07 — dlhertzbergEveryone is a winner with special K!
President said downturn will be much longer
Thu, 11/19/2009 - 15:00 — CottonelleThe president just this week said he felt the downturn is so entrenched it will go on much longer than some optimists have said. He's been a realist all along, but was criticized soundly in the press for saying the same thing when he took office. The people are hoping for the best, but anonymous Wall Streeters taking billions and putting it in their pockets, make no pretense anymore of manufacturing anything giving people work. Why bother when you can just walk off with billions and nobody calls you on it? Spending money to give people jobs that aren't needed? Care if people are going hungry? Until we rein in the thieves, we're not moving forward. And if anyone thinks Sarah Palin has the answers, think again.
Alarming!
Thu, 11/19/2009 - 14:58 — Joseph_de_MaistreUp to now, I really had not personally been touched by the recession, although I know that many people have suffered.
When I saw "Layoffs at Cary Kellogg plant," I admit that I greeted this latest news of my neighbors' misfortune with a breezy attitude. I probably would not even have clicked the story except for my surprise that we even have a Kellogg plant.
BUT THEN THE TRAGEDY CAME HOME TO ~ME~! Cheez-It production is threatened!?! Now I'm feeling the pain. This is the kind of angst people must have felt in the Great Depression when they were eating their dogs. Could a life without Cheez-Its be a life worth living? I don't think so.
sorry for the families...
Thu, 11/19/2009 - 14:55 — Taxpayer2008This comes at a difficult time of the year. Sympathy for those affected and their famliles.
The AP report will be that this is "unexpected"
Thu, 11/19/2009 - 14:27 — fiestamomEven though VP Joe Biden said the recession is over? How can this be? Obama told a group in San Francisco back in June, the recession is over and "You ain't seen nothing yet". I'm so glad we have hope and change. Thank you, America. Praise be to Barack Hussein Obama.
And who put us in this mess?
Thu, 11/19/2009 - 16:15 — johnfredEight years and a trillion dollars fighting a pointless war. It's the greedy Republicans who got us here as always. And anyone who is not a multi-millionaire who supports the Republicans is a misguided fool.
Haven't you people heard,
Thu, 11/19/2009 - 14:06 — bobbatchelorHaven't you people heard, the recession is over, Obama told me so.
Can you say mmm ... mmm ... mmm
Thu, 11/19/2009 - 13:50 — SeaOwlAt least the illegal alien problem will be ending soon. Not much point in escaping from Mexico.
Cut $1 Billion
Thu, 11/19/2009 - 13:37 — pergrant01That is a huge cut and sounds like hundreds of jobs maybe even a few thousand. Does anybody have an answer for this? comcast bill pay
Wasted time and money
Thu, 11/19/2009 - 13:21 — landsharkHere Governor is something you can work on! You might also look into Sony Ericsson's layoff. Maybe the Attorney General can work on these items, since you're doing his job!