The Campbell’s Company has announced plans to close its potato chip plant in Massachusetts in an effort to increase efficiency. Production of Cape Cod and Kettle Brand chips will be shifted to other facilities within the company.
The Hyannis manufacturing site, which is the smallest potato chip plant in Campbell’s network, will cease operations in April. The closure will affect 49 employees, and the facility will be put up for sale.
Elizabeth Duggan, president of Campbell’s Snacks, stated, “This difficult decision reflects a careful assessment of our business needs to strengthen our operations and position our Snacks business for long-term growth.”
Cape Cod chips, founded in Hyannis in 1980, has been part of Campbell’s since 1985. The acquisition was made as part of the company’s $5 billion purchase of Snyder’s-Lance in 2018.
Production of Cape Cod chips has expanded to other locations such as Beloit, Wisconsin; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Hanover, Pennsylvania, making the closure of the Hyannis plant financially necessary.
Similar to other food companies like PepsiCo and General Mills, Campbell’s has been consolidating facilities to improve efficiency. In 2023, the company plans to invest $50 million and hire 330 workers at its New Jersey headquarters.
In addition, Campbell’s will be closing snack offices in Charlotte and Norwalk, Connecticut, while also investing $230 million in newer, more efficient plants through fiscal 2026.