OLEAN — Dozens of workers will be out of a job this fall as Stroehmann Bakery officials plan to depart downtown Olean.
Bimbo Bakeries USA, a subsidiary of Mexico City-based Grupo Bimbo, told the Times Herald late Wednesday evening that the North Second Street facility’s work will be moving to other sites owned by the firm on Nov. 2. Also to be closed later this year is the company’s facility in Auburn, and a third, in San Antonio, Texas, is also slated for closure.
“We continuously review and adjust bakery assets and utilization to ensure optimal production. After careful analysis and consideration, we have made the difficult decision to close the Olean, NY bakery this fall,” officials said in a statement. “We will transition production to bakeries in our network that are better equipped to support our future growth.
“We remain grateful for our hardworking associates at the bakery and are committed to providing them with resources and support to ease their transitions.”
According to the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification published by the state Department of Labor on Thursday, the Auburn and Olean facilities will be closed. The Olean closure will affect 82 workers, while the Auburn closure will occur Sept. 6 and involve 49 workers. Workers at both sites to be affected include members of the Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union, while Olean Teamsters will also be affected.
Stroehmann was founded in 1927 in Williamsport, Pa. The company, as well as plants in several cities including Olean, was sold to Canadian firm George Weston Ltd. in 1978. The brand was later acquired by Mexico City-based Grupo Bimbo in 2008. Bimbo Bakeries USA operates 59 bakeries nationwide, according to the firm’s website, and claims that 83% of households purchase Bimbo Bakeries products.
Cattaraugus County property records indicate the North Second Street facility was built in 1915.
