Hershey’s Moves to Mexico, part 2
The general Hershey’s Move to Mexico report has made it to Snopes.com. They’re debunking the news that all US plants are moving to Mexico, when in reality it’s just over 10% of their workforce (so far). Snopes tags this as just “partly true,” but I can’t help but think it’s going to be tagged “true” over the next couple of years:
In February 2007, Hershey’s announced it would be cutting more than ten percent of its workforce and closing some of its U.S. plants. It expects to do away with about 1,500 jobs over the next three years from its current workforce of more than 13,000 and also plans to reduce the number of manufacturing lines it operates by almost a third. The company is building a new facility in Monterrey, Mexico, that it says will be focused on both low-value added products and on emerging markets, and it is setting up a joint manufacturing venture in China with Lotte Confectionery of South Korea.
Hershey’s Canadian operations are almost ended. Its Dartmouth, Nova Scotia plant, Hershey’s last remaining facility in Canada, will close in December 2007. Other plant closures include facilities in Oakdale, California; Naugatuck, Connecticut; and Reading, Pennsylvania.
“Low-value added products?” According to a web search that can mean “fats and oils, feed ingredients, corn products, meat, poultry and fish products.”
Related articles:
~ Hershey Profit Tumbles 96 Percent
~ Candy maker Hershey to cut jobs, send some manufacturing to Mexico
~ Hershey’s Flight to Mexico a Raw Deal for 3,000 Workers in U.S. and Canada
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POSTED IN: Chocolate, Chocolate News
21 opinions for Hershey’s Moves to Mexico, part 2
Cate
Jul 29, 2007 at 3:54 am
Dartmouth, is not Canada’s last remaining facility ! Smiths Falls is letting people go , but is expected to operate into next year. Your right ! the chocolate doesn’t taste as good …and it’s only going to get worse.
Dana
Aug 22, 2007 at 9:09 am
I think this is so horrible. Because of hersheys being so money hungry both my parents are losing there jobs along with housands of other people. Do you actually think the quality will be the same. It will probably have led and all other kind of crap that mexican candy has in it. I will not support a company that takes american jobs to other countries.
Louis
Nov 12, 2007 at 12:49 am
I am among the many AMERICANS that always was and still am proud of the small statement on products of the USA that state ; MADE IN THE USA. I have made the decision to no longer purchase and product made by Hershey or any associated companies and urge all AMERICANS to do the same to all companies that send our employment beyond the USA border.
Hershey Co. , you would do better by keeping manufacturing in the USA and getting back to the quality ( taste ) Hershey products had a few years past…. you have slipped on the chocolate to put it mildly ……
george lees
Nov 15, 2007 at 7:18 pm
Sorry to see Hersheys’ pull out, and go to Mexico. I always thought them to be an American Company. Sorry to say, but they will not make gains doing this, but may lose the company all together. Americans will not eat chocolate made in Mexico. Good bye for good Hershey. Mexico is a contaminated country. Even if a partial pullout is scheduled, Hershey wll not survive by selling chocolate to the U.S. I have hundreds of friends and contacts, as do my friends and co-workers. We are all in agreement to no longer buy your products. ADIOS!
Mary Ann Macaulay
Nov 17, 2007 at 11:41 am
Goodbye, I will not miss the calories anyway!
Jim
Nov 19, 2007 at 1:09 pm
Playtex and Smith Corona moved to Mexico—thousands of Americans went on the dole and a few guys made a pile of money–and the rest of us paid for all this with increased taxes–while corporate America dodged their US taxes. Until American consumers organize huge boycotts of these companies this trend will continue.
sharonpooh
Jan 3, 2008 at 6:44 pm
What is Hershey Park and Hershey, Pennsylvania without The Hershey Company?? I have had my last Hershey product. We need to be helping our own workers and our own economy………
Bob
Jan 12, 2008 at 8:26 am
I think that Hersheys is not the fisrt company that move operation to Monterrey Mexico, why because we can produce products with very good quality, cheap and fast.
sharon greenen
Jan 12, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Just because other companies have moved to Mexico, does that mean all companies should move out of the USA? Maybe, we will have Americans moving to those countries or crossing the border TO Mexico just to get a job. They will make less money and will not be able to afford to live in the USA. The economy will fail and we can just let those countries, which are just wanting to take over our country, walk right in. Maybe someone will walk right up and shake their hand and welcome them.
If other people decided to start a war in this country…do you just join in?
If every one started to jump off the mountain…does that mean we should all join them?
We have enough problems with candy, foods, and toys being made to harm us, do we need more lead and poisons to worry about?
Get real…..Is less quality really worth the money to the company????
We all know what happens with merchandise is made in another country unless you have been living in a dream world all this time….
george lees
Jan 12, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Sorry to see Hershey going to Mexico in any capacity. My wife, and many friends say no more Hershey chocolate in our household, and we do love Hersheys. With all the immigration problems associated with Mexico, just doesn’t make any sense. My wife is from Germany, and is a “legal” U.S. citizen. Hey, maybe there will be amass exodus back to Mexico to get jobs with Hershey. We loved you guys for over 70 years, sorry, can’t support your move.
Jerry
Feb 2, 2008 at 10:52 pm
To George and Sharon: There will be no mass exodus to Mexico for jobs with Hershey. It is against the law. In Mexico, a foreigner cannot work at a job that can be performed by a Mexican. You can only work if you can show that your skills are unique and unlikely to be duplicated by a native.
Ralph Shook
Mar 4, 2008 at 5:46 pm
If Hershey gives a damn what I think, there would not be a move to Mexico. I have enjoyed Hershey Bars for 70 years but I guess the move leaves a very bad taste in my mouth. To Hell with you Hershey!
David
Apr 23, 2008 at 10:59 am
I find it hard to believe that so many people are so negative about an American company trying to save itself by streamlining its production.
Yes, this does mean shutting down inefficient production facilities.
Yes, this does mean that a facility may need to be set up in a country with lower labor and maintenence costs.
But, in the end, isn’t this a better option than letting an American icon be lost completely?
The fact is, chocolate-making is becoming less and less profitable. Looking at Hershey’s financial reports, it looks to me like it was a choice between a Hersheys with 10% of its production in Mexico or having to find another candy company…probably one based overseas.
dana
Apr 23, 2008 at 1:52 pm
All I have to say is watch the movie border town. That is exactly what hersheys is doing over there paying people $5 a day.
Cate
Apr 24, 2008 at 6:22 am
Hershey is losing money because of this decision, they were very profitable before deciding to close American and Canadian plants. This decision could take a very long time to recover from, if they recover at all. Please do not tell me that Mexico’s food care is as good as those in America and Canada.
Danny Shannon
Jun 13, 2008 at 8:15 am
I just found out the news and thats it…..This cr__ has got to stop……Our Government better wise up……Pretty soon alot more than Ron Paul supporters are going to act.
paul roy
Aug 12, 2008 at 7:44 am
hershey has let down the american public and
we will boycott their products
Jerry
Aug 12, 2008 at 6:34 pm
To dana:
Actually, the pay is about $2.50 per hour. The Mexican minimum wadge of $5.00 par day. The engineers at the new plant make about $5.00 per hour.
Sam Sotiropoulos
Aug 12, 2008 at 8:30 pm
Hershey’s lost my business the moment I heard the first announcement about the shifting of operations to Mexico. Good luck to them, they’re obviously going to need it.
dianne
Aug 21, 2008 at 8:33 am
Hey good luck in Mexico!! I will never buy hershey again, we need to stick together about this. way to many jobs lost.
SnarfSnarf
Aug 29, 2008 at 6:10 pm
Hopefully Hershey chocolate will save enough money by moving to Mexico to make up for all the customers they will lose. They will get no more of my money.
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