Campbell Soup Company announced plans to optimize its supply chain, including closing its Tualatin, Oregon facility. The plant, acquired in 2017 as part of Campbell’s purchase of Pacific Foods, produces organic soups, broths, and plant-based beverages.
The closure will be phased, with the first round impacting 120 employees in August 2024 and the entire facility ceasing operations by July 2026. This decision affects a total of 330 workers.
Campbell cited the Tualatin plant’s limitations as a key reason for the closure. The facility consists of leased buildings totaling 250,000 square feet, with an aging infrastructure and inefficient layout. According to Campbell, this setup hinders the company’s ability to meet growing consumer demand for Pacific Foods products.
The company plans to relocate soup and broth production to other thermal and aseptic plants within its network. Plant-based beverage production will shift to established co-manufacturing partners.
Campbell also announced investments in several other facilities nationwide, including Maxton, North Carolina; Hanover, Pennsylvania; and Franklin, Wisconsin.
This news comes amidst a broader trend of food manufacturers consolidating operations to streamline production and reduce costs. However, the closure will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the Tualatin community, with over 300 jobs lost.