Richelieu Foods closes Grundy Center facility

GRUNDY CENTER - Richelieu Foods announced Tuesday it has closed its Grundy Center facility, effective immediately, according to a press release.

The release notes that the decision to close the facility at 701 A Avenue was "part of a cost reduction and business consolidation plan," and goes on to note that business previously supplied by Grundy Center will be consolidated into the company's facility in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, a process expected to be completed over the next 60 days. Employees will be offered the opportunity to relocate to other Richelieu facilities.

According to Iowa Workforce Development's Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act listing, 81 employees are affected by the closing.

"Closing a facility is a hard decision, but one that will ultimately improve the competitiveness of Richelieu for the long term," said Brian Fox, CEO of Richelieu Foods. "The community and people of Grundy Center have been great partners for Richelieu over many years here, and we will do what we can to help our employees find work at other businesses in the area."

Richelieu Foods is a private brand and contract packing food company founded in 1862 that deals primarily in retail frozen & deli pizza and dressings and sauces for retail and food service brands. Richelieu Foods operates manufacturing facilities in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin; Washington Court House, Ohio and Wheeling and Elk Grove Village in Illinois.