Methuen Yogurt Plant Closing, 144 Employees Losing Jobs

METHUEN (CBS) – A total of 144 employees will lose jobs after General Mills announced that it will be closing its yogurt manufacturing facility in Methuen.

General Mills made the announcement on Thursday, saying that the company is "optimizing its yogurt manufacturing network, consolidating production at other facilities within the General Mills supply chain."

In addition to closing the Methuen plant, General Mills is also shutting down a factory in Lodi, Calif., pending a successful negotiation with union officials.

The process of consolidating production is expected to be completed late in the summer of next year.

Employees impacted by the shutdown will be given a severance package and transition benefits, General Mills said.

The Methuen plan has been operated by General Mills since 1993, manufacturing Yoplait brand yogurt.

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