Solo Cup Plant to Close, Cutting 420 Chicago Jobs
Solo Cup Co. is relocating its headquarters and cutting 420 Chicago jobs in the process.
The company is moving its headquarters, comprised of three buildings, from Highland Park, an outside suburb of Chicago, to Lake Forest, where employees will be situated in one building. Employees that currently work for Solo will move into office space in Lake Forest during the summer of 2009, according to an article by WBBM.
“Relocating to one headquarters building will improve our efficiency and our ability to collaborate,” Robert Korzenski, president and CEO, said in the article.
Solo also announced its plans to close a manufacturing facility in Highland Park by July 2009. The company is able to close this plant because of improved production at its 13 other American plants. The closings and relocations will eliminate 420 Chicago jobs, with 200 full-time positions being moved to seven other locations and one-third staying in Chicago and Urbana.
“Increased efficiency and investment in state-of-the-art equipment are critical to being competitive in our industry and to positioning the company for growth, especially in the current economic climate,” Korzenski added in the article. “We have continued to improve the operating performance of our manufacturing facilities and we are able to be more productive in less space.”
All employees that lose their jobs in Chicago will be encouraged to pursue employment opportunities at other Solo facilities.
“While Highland Park never likes to see any of its businesses close or relocate outside the community, the city looks forward to working with the new property owner to develop an alternative use that is compatible with the community and positive for the city’s tax base,” Highland Park Mayor Michael Belsky noted in the article.
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