Foam cup production plant to close in Campbellford

A longtime polystyrene foam cup production plant in Campbellford is closing later this year, putting 50 employees out of work.

In a statement, Dart Container Corporation confirmed with Global Peterborough that it will be closing its Dart Cup Ltd. manufacturing facility in Campbellford at the end of this year as part of a “network optimization initiative.” The plant is 55 kilometres southeast of Peterborough.

The Michigan-based company produces more than 3,000 products as “recycling options for food and beverage packaging.”

The company says employees were notified earlier this week of the impending closure and noted staff may be eligible for severance and will receive job placement assistance.

The Dart Cup plant opened in Campbellford in 1985.

“In response to changing customer preferences in the marketplace and our company’s need to adapt to those changes, we have evaluated our manufacturing footprint across the globe and have made the difficult but necessary decision to close our Campbellford plant,” stated Dart president Jim Lammers.

“This was a strategic but painful decision because we value the commitment and contributions of our Campbellford employees, many of whom have been with us for decades.”

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Dart says employment will draw down throughout the year as the company transfers production and equipment. The closure won’t affect Dart’s Canadian production, distribution, and operations in Toronto and Mississauga.

On Friday, Trent Hills Mayor Bob Crate told Global Peterborough the closure will be a huge impact on the community and municipality.

“My initial reaction was shock. We hadn’t heard anything about the news,” he said. “The effect for our community is monumental.”

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Dart Container has 16,000 employees, and produce 3,000 products at more than 40 locations in six countries.