Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (GMCR) announced on 13 March layoffs of 74 full-time production and support employees in its Castroville, California and Toronto, Ontario facilities. The company, manufacturers of the Keurig brand of single-serve machines and portion packs, also announced additional seasonal layoffs of 36 positions in its Toronto and Montreal, Quebec facilities. The company noted that combined, these actions affect less than 2 per cent of GMCR’s total North American employees as of 29 December 2012. “As we continue to grow, we also are working to enhance manufacturing and logistics efficiency across our nine North American K-Cup pack and Vue pack production locations,” said Brian Kelley, President and CEO of GMCR in a statement. “These changes align the size of our workforce with production demand at these particular locations.” The company said that all reductions are anticipated to be complete by 11 May 2013. GMCR said it expects a one-time pre-tax charge related to these actions during its second quarter fiscal 2013 in the range of US$600,000 to $650,000. “We recognise the impact these actions have on our employees and their families and intend to support them through the transition process,” said Kelley. As of 29 September 2012, the end of its fiscal year 2012, GMCR employed approximately 6000 regular and temporary employees in the United States and Canada combined including approximately 1200 employees added from external hires during its fiscal year 2012.
