Posted on 08/06/2014 3:03:23 PM PDT by BenLurkin
CHATSWORTH (CBSLA.com) — Hundreds of Angelenos could soon be out of work after Nestlé USA announced it will relocate a Hot Pockets facility in Chatsworth back east.
KNX 1070’s Margaret Carrero reports the 184,000-square-foot production facility in the 9600 block of Canoga Avenue has been making the popular snacks since 1988
The Glendale-based Nestlé USA will move the Chatsworth operation to another facility in Mount Sterling, Kentucky, where the company will invest $13 million and hire 150 new employees locally as the operation converts to a round-the-clock schedule, officials announced.
Approximately 360 employees will be impacted by the closure, but Nestle officials say some may be able to relocate to their Kentucky facility where Hot Pockets production will be shifted some time in October.
In a statement, Nestlé USA’s Chief Technical Officer Martial Genthon said the decision to consolidate production to one location came after exhaustive analysis.
“Unlike other manufacturing facilities we operate in California, the Chatsworth facility presents some challenges to our business needs,” said Genthon. “While the decision to stop manufacturing Hot Pockets at our California facility is a tough one because it affects 360 of our Nestlé employees, it is the right decision for our business.”
Nestlé USA bought the Hot Pockets and Lean Pockets brands in 2002.
Local business owners like Lonell, who has owned a small machine shop in Chatsworth since 2011, said she can understand the move given the city and state’s high tax rate.
“They tax you on the seat you sit in, the computer you use, the machinery you use, then you have to pay tax to keep the machinery and operate it,” she said. “It just doesn’t make any sense.”
It was not immediately clear what will happen to the facility once Nestlé USA completes the transition.
Economist William Roberts, director of the San Fernando Valley Economic Research Center at Cal State Northridge, told the Daily News that it will not be easy to repurpose the facility or replace the jobs.
“There is still a lot of empty space throughout the Valley so it’s not like there is a lack of places to buy and build something,” he said. “I’ve seen places lie vacant for five or six years.”
I like his interview with Conan where he talks about southern food.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EU5RP390F9U
Part of his newest act.
Saw him live about a month ago in Minneapolis. good stuff.
I knew you all wouldn’t disappoint me!
It’s also a “culture” issue (work ethic, respect: things like that).
At GE they told the same things to our employees when GE was opening a plant in NC. As expected, few were called
As for Hot Pockets I wonder about folks who say they would not eat something or other if they have ever been really, really hungry ?
There was a time I was so broke for so long that a 23 cent can of Chili made my day ( which as you can imagine the quality of that)....... HA Yeah it's something I would not eat today but.....
Good Job California. Good Job.
Maybe Moochelle can help someone there get a grant to make Green Pockets?
The Left Looney company can’t take the Left’s looney policies, so they move, to a more right-of-center state for relief. Oh, how they love saving money while they pressure the new locals into becoming Left Loons and electing more Left Loonies to enact the same destructive policies from which they came.
We used to have Hot-N-Now drive through restaurants around here that sold 35 cent burgers. I ate a lot of those when I was broke.
Up near the straits of Mackinac Pasties are a tradition. They’re just traditional home made cornish hot pockets.
Previous posts not withstanding, the taste or nutritional quality of hot pockets is irrelevant here. The plant generated tax receipts and paychecks for Californians, and now it’s gone, due largely to the business unfriendly climate there.
I enjoy the occasional hot pockets for breakfast or lunch.
And Chatsworth is still reeling from the porn industry having left.
At least the gangs are still hiring. Plenty of openings for entry level home invasion operations on the lib voters south of the boulevard who still have paychecks.
There was a time I was so broke for so long that a 23 cent can of Chili made my day ( which as you can imagine the quality of that)....... HA Yeah it’s something I would not eat today but.....
I never eat canned chili, but always buy cans when they are ten for ten bux. Part of my cheapo prepper plan. I figure with all the spices I have I can dump them into or onto almost anything to make it palatable.
First of all, my kids love Hot Pockets, especially Ham and Cheese and Pepperoni Pizza flavors. What can I say, they’re teenagers.
Secondly, I grow two huge gardens and I have every imaginable fresh produce you could want and can all the rest. I buy organic beef and chicken and eggs from my farmer friends across the road. I love fish and fish regularly and eat most of my catch.
But my kids love Hot Pockets and their favorite restaurant is McDonalds.
If I’m on call and running out the door I will occasionally grab one of their Hot Pockets. The two flavors I mentioned above aren’t bad, but watch out for the hot pepperonis when you take a bite out of the Pizza kind.
Actually Brown has already suggested that they convert it for an illegal housing facility.
I’ve had them. Then I realized they were gross and better food could be bought cheaper. They are just plain nasty, you deserve better, your kids deserve better.
Canadian chef Laura Calder has an epi on French Canada with a traditional Acadian meat pie recipe.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.