Lactalis Canada has informed workers at its Sudbury beverage plant that it will be closing the operation on or about Dec. 12, 2025, said a July 24 news release from the United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 175.
This confirms a news story last week by Sudbury.com informing readers that the company said the decision had been made to shut down the operation, roughly 13 months after it had opened.
The UFCW said the decision to shut down the facility that produced the plant-based beverage Enjoy! is expected to affect the jobs of 26 unionized workers, members of Local 175.
The union said the announcement was unexpected and disappointing.
"Given the significant investment Lactalis made recently in refurbishing its facility, this announcement is a surprise and a letdown," said Kelly Tosato, president of UFCW Local 175.
"We are focused on supporting our members through this difficult transition, and we will continue to meet with the company to discuss the closure and its impact on the workers and community."
The union said it is actively engaged with Lactalis Canada to ensure affected employees receive the support they need, including transition and employment assistance programs such as resumé writing services and potential transfer opportunities.
In recognition of their service, affected workers will receive enhanced severance packages of two weeks' pay for every year of service, said the news release.
"Our priority is ensuring that the workers are treated fairly and supported during this time," added Tosato.
"We will continue to keep members informed and advocate for every available option to help them move forward."
UFCW Locals 175 & 633 represent more than 70,000 workers across Ontario in a wide range of sectors, including industrial manufacturing, automotive parts, retail, and meat and poultry processing, said the release.
