The following was shared to me by a friend, and former supervisor from 5 years ago. It relates the impact of "business decisions" on a town in upstate New York.
Goodbye, Chocolate Factory. :`(
Friday May 2nd, 2003 marked a sad passing. After more than a hundred and two years in Fulton New York, the Nestlé company shut down it's very first Chocolate factory in the United States, putting over 417 men and women out of work.
The majority of these employees were just within reach of their retirement. Now they must start over again. Nestlé has moved the plant's Nestlé Crunch bar production to Brazil, the Nesquick line to another state, and sold off the Peters brand of chocolate that had been produced at this factory for most of it's history.
For years these employees put forth every effort, met every demand, and fought every fight possible to save this factory. Each and every time the Company raised the bar, the employees met the challenge. This was not enough for Nestlé.
Over the past twenty years, New York State, Oswego County, and the City of Fulton brought Nestlé tax break after tax break, incentive after incentive. These were not enough. Seven years ago the City of Fulton undertook a multi-million dollar water and sewer upgrade and overhaul specifically intended for the Nestlé plant. The people of this town, many of them Nestlé employees, retirees, family, or friends, all understood. What was good for Nestlé was good for the town. They emphatically supported these upgrades with their tax dollars. This was not enough for Nestlé.
Nestlé announced that the plant would close and that this was strictly a "business decision" and was not open to discussion. THAT was enough for Nestlé. The Nestlé company is huge. It manufactures more than just candy bars. There are the drinks: Juicy Juice, Nestea, Nesquick, Nescafé, Coffee Mate, and Carnation Instant Breakfast. There are the pet foods: Purina, Mighty Dog, Alpo, Fancy Feast, Friskies, and Tidy Cat.
There are the prepared foods: Lean cuisine, and Stouffers. And the candy: Nestle' Crunch &Chocolate, Baby Ruth, Wonka, Sweet-tarts, Butterfinger, Goobers, Raisinets, and Bit-o-Honey to name a few.
Nestlé wants still more. Who was first in line last year when the trustees of the Hershey Foundation considered selling their controlling share of the Hershey Companies? Nestlé was! Considering their "Just Business" decisions, where would they move Hershey Pennsylvania's production lines to? Hershey Brazil? Hershey Thailand? Remember, it's just business.
So the next time you're buying a candy bar, coffee creamer, Cocoa, Chocolate Milk, or dog food, please take the time to think about the little town in upstate New York that has 417 newly unemployed workers, and will never again have the smell of chocolate in the air when it's about to rain. Then make your choice; Nestlé or another brand. Maybe, just maybe, Nestlé will then realize it isn't just business any more.
If you think this lament is worthy, I'd appreciate it if you would take the time to share it. Support American produced products - Keep Jobs in the U.S.A.
Thanks for reading!
Ann Marie
