Gerber to cut 49 jobs at Fort Smith plant

by Talk Business & Politics staff ([email protected]) 1,333 views 

Gerber Products Company released a statement Friday (Jan. 18) announcing the baby foods manufacturer would cut 49 jobs from its Fort Smith facility.

Content partner KFSM 5 News posted a company statement that read in part:

“As part of this transformation, we have reviewed the composition and performance of our product portfolio and related manufacturing capacity. To be responsive to the quickly changing needs of parents and caregivers, we have made the decision to reduce our puree cup capacity to one line and transition our Infant Cereal business to a 5 day operation at our factory in Fort Smith, AR.”

The changes will impact about 49 Fort Smith employees, the statement said.

Gerber operates an infant cereal facility at its Fort Smith factory located at 4301 Harriet Ave. The factory opened in 1964.

“We are working closely with our union to ensure the process is managed according to our collective bargaining agreement. We will treat our people with fairness and respect and will ensure that each impacted employee is appropriately supported throughout the transition,” the statement said.

Gerber is a subsidiary of Nestle Group.