HyLife Foods announces 87 layoffs, including 29 at Neepawa pork plant

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HyLife Foods announces 87 layoffs, including 29 at Neepawa pork plant

Details: Published on Friday, June 9, 2023

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By Eoin Devereux

Neepawa Banner & Press

Seismic shifts in the global pork market are, unfortunately, hitting close to home today. On Friday, June 9, HyLife Foods announced it must layoff 87 employees, including 29 positions at the pork processing facility in Neepawa. The majority of affected jobs are related to administrative and are not expected to significantly impact production.

In a media release confirming the staff downsizing, HyLife noted that there were several factors connected to the decision, including inflation, rising production costs and a growing uncertainty in pork markets. Concerns over the fluctuating exchange rates in foreign markets were also cited.

Grant Lazaruk, president and chief executive officer of HyLife, stated that despite their best efforts, this is something that had to be done.

“Over the last several months, these difficulties have become increasingly pressing and have created a situation where we need to be more efficient. We are carefully restructuring to endure the current global conditions,” said Lazaruk. “These are roles and people we value. No decision has been easy. We want to sincerely thank the team members who are departing. [But] we know that long term, these incredibly hard choices will reposition and return our business to a place of strength and stability,”

Over the last few weeks, HyLife Foods has been restructuring its global operations, including the announced closure of its pork facility in Windom, Minnesota, directly impacting 1,000 jobs. Premium Iowa Pork, a U.S.-based pork company, is reportedly set to buy that facility, according to a recent article from Minneapolis based newspaper, the Star Tribune.

HyLife Food is headquartered in La Broquerie, MB, and has facilities and barns across the province in locations such as La Broquerie, Steinbach, Neepawa and Killarney. Globally, it also had facilities located in both the United States and Mexico.