| 44 jobs eliminated at local CBK facility | | Posted: Thursday, January 24, 2013 9:02 pm
| MVP Group International has announced it will restructure its Union City Midwest-CBK operations and distribution facility, including the elimination of 44 positions in the customer service, distribution, finance, procurement and human resource departments.
“This was a very difficult decision, and one that we have not taken lightly,” says Scott Wehrs, president of MVP Brands. “However, with the sale of the Midwest-CBK product lines, it is a necessary transition. We thank our employees for their service, and we are doing all we can to support and help them through this transition to other employment.”
“We also remain committed to the Union City community. The operations and distribution center has been an important part of the company’s history, and the employees have made many contributions to the business and community through the years. We are in the process of determining future plans for this state-of-the-art facility and know it will continue to play an important role in the community.”
It was in November 2012 that MVP Group sold its holiday, home décor and gift divisions of Midwest-CBK, but the company retained its Union City Midwest-CBK operation.
“This is unfortunate news for our community, particularly those directly affected. We have been working with Midwest-CBK, as well as all of our local industry, as part of our business retention program. We make industry visits and listen to their needs, what is going right and where there may be areas of opportunity,” said Lindsay Frilling, economic development director for the Obion County Joint Economic Development Corporation.
“Midwest-CBK was recently designated as a Foreign Trade Zone area, along with the Northwest Tennessee Regional Industrial Center. This was a direct result of our retention efforts. We will continue to support the company as they are an important part of Union City and Obion County’s business community,” she said.
MVP Group International is one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of premium home fragrances, candles and plush products. The company’s corporate headquarters are based in Charleston, S.C.
MVP Group has offices and manufacturing facilities worldwide including Elkin, N.C.; Hong Kong; Shenzhen, China; and Union City.
The latest employment figures show the local Midwest-CBK plant, located in the George C. Cloys Industrial Park on the north side of Union City, employs about 150 workers.
In related news, the state is scheduled to release its county-by-county unemployment report later today. Since the shutdown of the Union City Goodyear plant in 2011, Obion County has had among the state’s highest jobless rates.
Published in The Messenger 1.24.13 | | | | |
