Kellogg’s to lay off 246 from facility

Distribution center located in Weston

Snack and cereal maker Kellogg’s is closing its distribution center in Weston and laying off 246 workers as it changes its strategy for distributing snack products.

The company announced the layoffs in a notice to the state Department of Economic Opportunity. They take effect during two 14-day spans: beginning July 8 for distribution center employees and beginning Aug. 4 for “snacks retail execution” employees.

In February, the company announced it was eliminating directto-store distribution of products sold by its U.S. Snacks division, including Keebler cookies and crackers, Special K bars, and Cheez-It.

Snack product distribution is being shifted to the warehouse model currently in use for 75 percent of Kellogg’s sales, such as its Pringles, frozen foods and breakfast cereal brands.

The Battle Creek, Mich.-based company said the shift would enable it to focus on revitalizing its snacks division, which experienced declining sales between 2014 and the first half of 2016.

“While this is the right move for the future of the company, it was a difficult decision because of the impact on affected employees,” said John Bryant, chairman and chief executive of Kellogg’s, in a February news release announcing the strategy shift. “We are doing everything we can to help our employees manage through this transition.”

In an email Wednesday, Kellogg’s spokeswoman Kris Charles said, “We’ve been actively engaged in conversations with some of our biggest retail partners who have expressed strong interest in hiring these employees for highdemand roles once the transition is complete.”

Kellogg’s is best known for its iconic line of breakfast cereals, including Corn Flakes, Frosted Flakes and Raisin Bran.

The South Florida distribution center is located at 3360 Enterprise Ave.

Eliminated positions based at the facility include 179 merchandisers (including 119 employed part time), two merchandise managers, 4 district sales managers, 34 sales representatives, 15 truck drivers, 8 warehouse operators, a distribution center manager, a transportation manager, a warehouse manager and a zone scheduler.