McCain Foods to close appetizer plant in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin

McCain Foods USA Inc. announced Wednesday it will close operations at its Fort Atkinson manufacturing plant due to changing business dynamics.

Officials of the Lisle, Ill.-based company reportedly were in Fort Atkinson to break the news to the plant’s approximately 120 employees.

Frank Finn, president McCain Foods USA Inc.:

“It is never an easy decision to close a plant, especially when it means job losses.”

“While it is never our intention to eliminate jobs, our decision is based on the overall business climate.”

Products currently produced at the Fort Atkinson plant will be moved to other McCain Foods plants including the plant in nearby Rice Lake, Wisconsin.

Finn continues:

“We appreciate everything our Fort Atkinson plant employees do to deliver high quality products and create a safe working environment,”

“We will treat every employee with the utmost respect, and will continue to work closely with union officials during this transition.”

A notice was sent to the City of Fort Atkinson Wednesday indicating that there would be 117 employees affected by the closure.

City Manager Matt Trebatoski said the first employee separations would start in June.

The full closure of the facility is expected to be complete by the end of December 2015.