Friendly's slicing jobs as it shuts Chicopee warehouse
Partners with US Foods for distribution
An unspecified number of Friendly’s workers will lose their jobs early next year when the restaurant chain closes a warehousing and food distribution center in Chicopee.
The Wilbraham company, FIC Restaurants Inc., has opted to partner with Rosemont, Ill.-based US Foods Inc. for its restaurant distribution services beginning in February. Fewer than 50 employees will be affected by the closure, according to Friendly’s spokeswoman Maura Tobias, who could not provide a specific number.
“This partnership allows for more flexible distribution options and services as we focus on opening new restaurants, both company and franchise,” Tobias said. “... This move will align Friendly’s distribution services with preferred distribution practices in the restaurant industry ...”
Friendly’s will use US Foods warehouses in Seabrook, N.H., and Pittston, Pa., to service its 250 restaurants. Its leased, approximately 60,000- square- foot warehousing and food distribution center, has been in operation since 1995.
Friendly’s is providing transition services to affected workers, according to Tobias. “We are actively working to place as many employees as would like to be placed,” she said. “We have upcoming job fairs with US Foods (and) Dean Foods, and will also place employees in our restaurants if they’d like. We have also reached out to other businesses in the community to place them.”
Friendly’s is owned by an affiliate of Sun Capital Partners Inc., a Boca Raton, Fla.-based private equity firm.
It finalized the sale of its retail ice cream and manufacturing business to Dallas, Texas-based Dean Foods Co. in June.