Green Mountain Coffee to close Toronto facility, consolidate Canadian ops in Montreal

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc (NASDAQ: GMCR) today announced it would consolidate all of its Canadian coffee and portion pack production to its Montreal, Quebec facility. The Company expects to cease production at its Toronto, Ontario facility by March 5, 2014, affecting a total of 120 production and production support employees, or approximately 2 percent of its total workforce, whose positions will be eliminated.
"As we continue to grow, we also are assessing the effectiveness of our manufacturing, distribution, and logistics network across our U.S. and Canadian locations," said Brian P Kelley, President and CEO of GMCR. "We have expanded the footprint of our Montreal facility more than 40% this fiscal year. After careful analysis of facility-specific operational costs and the Toronto facility's inability to expand to accommodate future growth, it was clear that consolidating our Canadian-based production to our Montreal facility is the right business decision to support our strong and growing presence in Canada. We recognize the impact that this action has on our employees and their families and intend to support them through the transition process."
GMCR will support affected employees through the transition process by offering outplacement services.
GMCR expects a one-time pre-tax charge related to this action in its fourth quarter fiscal year 2013. The Company expects the impact of the charge will be immaterial to its fiscal year 2013 results and did not update its previously issued financial outlook.
Following closure of the Toronto facility, GMCR will manufacture all of the licensed, Keurig Brewed® K-Cup® and Vue® packs for use in its Keurig® brewers in eight facilities in the US and Canada: Castroville, California; Knoxville, Tennessee; Windsor, Virginia; Essex, Waterbury and Williston, Vermont; Sumner, Washington; and Montreal, Quebec. In addition, the Company has offices and conducts research and development for its beverages and its Keurig® Single Cup systems in Waterbury, Vermont and Burlington, Reading and Wakefield, Massachusetts with a small team operating in Asia.
As of June 29, 2013, GMCR employed approximately 6,250 regular and temporary employees globally.
About Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc.
As a leader in specialty coffee and coffee makers, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. (GMCR) (NASDAQ: GMCR), is recognized for its award-winning coffees, innovative Keurig® Single Cup brewing technology, and socially responsible business practices. GMCR supports local and global communities by investing in sustainably-grown coffee, and donating a portion of its pre-tax profits to social and environmental projects.
Source: Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. WATERBURY, Vt.--(BUSINESS WIRE) -- 9.5.2013