Posted on 04/24/2007 8:21:11 AM PDT by Wolfie
Hershey to Close Reading, Pa., Plant
The Hershey Co., the nation's leading candy maker, said Monday that it will shut down a plant in Reading as part of a wider move to cut labor and materials costs.
The closing, which will affect about 260 unionized employees, is the company's second plant-closing announcement in a little over two months.
"Our network operates at less than half of capacity (over seven days) and we must make significant changes to remain competitive," Hershey (nyse: HSY - news - people ) spokesman Kirk Saville said.
Saville said the company would work out severance agreements with the workers and close the plant in 2008. Hershey is looking to shift more manufacturing to India, China, Mexico and contractors in the United States, and has already announced it will cut up to 900 of the 3,000 workers from three plants in its hometown.
Hershey originally purchased the Reading plant from the Dietrich Corp. in 1987 and brought aboard the Luden's cough drop brand and the Fifth Avenue chocolate bar.
The plant also makes York Peppermint Patties, Reese's crispy crunch bars and Jolly Ranchers. The plant is about 40 miles east of the company headquarters in the town named for the chocolate magnate, Milton S. Hershey.
Hey, no doubt they'll find working with the Communist Chinese more to their liking. More power to them. Can I venture to ask, did your FRiends dad and hundreds like them all pack their bags and move to China with their business? Or did they choose to remain here in the bad ole USofA? Just curious. Blackbird.
We could give every sugar farmer in the USA a condo in Boca, a porsche and 75 thousand a year to QUIT RAISING SUGAR and the rest of the population would be better off. So why do we do it? Simple. Some congressman in Florida and Louisana paints a lugubrious story of the valiant American farmer, toiling against the odds of nature and the greed of foreign farmers, who beat the darkies working in the sugar fields and who pay them less than 2 cents an hour blah blah blah.
The market SEEMS harsh, but in the long run it is ruthlessly kind. Market societies adapt, thrive, and prosper. Protectionist societies like Europe and increasingly the USA wither, lose their wealth, and more importantly, lose the ability to produce wealth. Getting misty eyed over the Star Spangled banner won't change that basic truth.
Looks like he and I have the same idea about how much you're worth.
LOL! My last support call went to India, "Hi my name is lakshdreftpiuyrpituyweiu4rty, but you can call me George. Of course, it was a call to replace a crashed Hard Drive, and I had to sit listening (sort of) to this maroon flipping pages and telling me to do stuff (the drive was sitting on my desk) and I just made some noises for everything he asked me to do so he thought he was making some real progress. It was truely a practice in the absurd. Blackbird.
Such a funny, rhetorical question.
Actually, I plan to sell my business within 3-5 years and go to Ecuador. I do worry about the future of my children, though.
Finally, I DON'T dislike "everyone in America." I despise the sick mentality of envy toward those who have prospered, whether it if from the leftists or the "conservatives" whose first reaction is to blame the wealthy, rather than ask why people who grew up here and DO love our heritage are convinced that since we are determined to destroy it, they had best pack up and leave while they still have the silverware.
As long as we all understand that we (meaning we, the consumers) will pay for it, then let's go ahead and do it.
lakshdreftpiuyrpituyweiu4rty... Thats funny. Something else that “Mike in India” wanted was my SocSec. I wonder how many people actually give out the info.
Still here, thought you ran away. Of course, YOU know me so well! Just thought I'd point out the absurdity of you traitors with your own comments. Don't you have a dollar bill to chase through a trailor park somewhere? Keep messing with me and one of your buddies will beat you to it. Blackbird.
Why not relocate your business to China, or Ecuador? I'm sure it's an employers dream to have dedicated, hard working employees that don't stand around getting drunk all day and thinking of ways to sue you.
Actually, I am thinking of starting a business making engineered hardwood floors. There is quite a market in Brazil, Chile, Argentina and increasingly, Ecuador and Peru. Europe and the Middle East are also growing markets. Of course, there is the USA to consider, as well. Why, are you looking for work?
I know this. In spite of this, Hershey Corporation is profitable. Could they be "more" profitable? Sure. Lobby Congress to level the playing field, instead of climbing in bed with the commies. Funny how that works here in America.
I don't see where you answered my question though. Did your FRiends dad and the hundreds of others head out themselves to the "business" paradise or did THEY choose to hang around this hellhole called the USofA? Please answer. Thanks in advance. Blackbird.
I do have one huge question in all this -- especially the vitamin industry for example -- how much of sending something that is so highly automated to China has more to do with government inspectors and quality control than cheaper manufacturing?
Ran away? LOL I have a good number of friends whose parents ran away from the Soviets. I’ll make my stand against you and your comrades here.
Yeah all of US American Firsters are well infiltrated comrades! Yeah, that's the ticket. A real winner you have there. Blackbird.
He winds up spending so much time on the road that the question is not exactly the question you think you are asking. He does have a home in Shanghai, though. He also has his home here which he has had for years. His kids are grown, and his wife loves to travel. We should all be so lucky.
I thought of a good name for Pat-sies. We should call them the Red Brigadiers.
~LOL~ I seldom ever eat any candy.
So you're headed to Ecuador to develop this business? If so, I am sure you will have an unlimited number of hard working employees, that will be totally dedicated, working for much less than greedy American workers would want.
I'm surprised you're still here.
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