Dan River Inc., a Danville-based textile manufacturer,
ended production at its Brookneal plant, citing pressures
from a competitive retail environment. The company
is seeking a buyer for the plant but will shut it down
if one is not found. About 280 workers are affected
by the decision. (Danville Register & Bee)
Hooker Furniture Corp., a Martinsville
furniture manufacturer, will close its Roanoke
facility and lay off the plant’s 275 workers. The company
said a weakening market for American-made wooden furniture
led to the decision. Production will be consolidated
at a factory and warehouse in Martinsville. (The Roanoke
Times)
Intertape Polymer
Group Inc., a Canadian manufacturer of polyolefin
plastic and packaging products, plans to close its
repackaging plant in Gretna
after undergoing changes in the way it handles packaging
and delivery of products. In addition, the company
is selling two closed plants in Edmunston, New Brunswick and Green
Bay, Wisc. (Danville Register & Bee)
Smithfield Foods Inc. plans to consolidate
its bacon and packaged meat production lines from its
two Smithfield plants. The move, which could mean
the loss of up to 125 meatpacking jobs, is part of
a restructuring of the company’s East Coast operations
for increased efficiency. (Daily Press)
