Fazer closes Kaarina factory and moves operations to factory in Koria
Fazer has evaluated different options for increasing efficiency in the production of its Fazer Yosa oat products and for enabling growth and has decided to close the production facility in Kaarina and to move its operations to the factory in Koria.
Collaboration negotiations affecting all employees at the Kaarina factory have been concluded. Expanding and modernising the factory in Kaarina to meet large-scale food production as required by the growth of the oat business would require sizeable investments that, given the factory’s current location, are difficult to carry out.
“Non-dairy oat-based products play a key role in the growth of our business, both domestically and internationally. The total market for non-dairy products in Western Europe is growing at a yearly rate of over 17 per cent. Our main assets in the tightening competition are our strong expertise in the oat business, our consumer-centric product range and our strong brands. At the same time, we need to secure our positions in face of the stiffening competition; assure the competitiveness of our production; enable essential additional investments into production; and meet the tightening quality, safety and environmental requirements,” say Heli Anttila, VP Supply Chain and Operations at Fazer Lifestyle Foods.
Fazer supports employees in change
After the collaboration negotiations, Fazer has evaluated the situation and the options discussed for achieving operating efficiencies at the production of the Fazer Yosa oat products and for enabling growth and decided to close the production facility in Kaarina and to move its operations to the factory in Koria.
The collaboration negotiations involved the entire personnel at the Kaarina factory: 23 permanent employees as well as 25 employees with fixed-term or on-call contracts.
The closure of the Kaarina factory will take place by the end of October 2020. Fazer will support those whom the termination of employment will affect.
“Increasing the efficiency of our production is necessary to our competitiveness. We will support our employees and want to help their possibilities for re-employment. We will liaise closely with the local employment administrations and aim to offer them employment at other Fazer units, where possible,” Heli Anttila adds.
The dairy-free oat-based Fazer Yosa products are part of the Fazer Lifestyle Foods Business Area.
Additional information:
Fazer’s media phone line is open Mon–Fri from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., tel. +358 40 668 2998, media@fazer.com
Fazer Group
Fazer, The Food Experience Company, enables people to enjoy the best moments of their day. In 1891, the young Karl Fazer opened his first café with a mission to make food with a purpose – and a passion to create moments of joy for all the people around him. Shaping the next tastes, traditions and food experiences, Fazer builds on its strong heritage, consumer first approach and innovations to create the sustainable food solutions of the future. Fazer is focusing on its fast-moving consumer goods and direct-to-consumer businesses, transforming into a modern sustainable food company with a joint direction. The Group operates in nine countries and exports to around 40 countries. In 2019, Fazer Group had net sales of 1,1 billion euros and almost 9,000 employees. Fazer’s operations comply with ethical principles that are based on the Group’s values and the UN Global Compact.
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