Blue Bell lays off 1,450 workers, furloughs 1,400 more

[TexasTowelie]

Source: Austin American-Statesman

Brenham-based Blue Bell Creameries said Friday it was laying off 1,450 workers and furloughing 1,400 more in light of a listeria outbreak that has idled operations at its four production facilities and sparked a nationwide recall of 8 million gallons of frozen treats.

About 750 of the workers being laid off are full-time, CEO Paul Kruse said a written statement, with the remaining 700 classified as part-time.

The company has almost 4,000 workers nationwide, including 900 in Brenham, where it is the city’s largest private employer.

Some remaining workers will see their hours and pay slashed.



Read more: http://www.statesman.com/news/business/blue-bell-furloughs-1450-workers/nmHNs/

[randys1]

1. Would stronger, tougher REGULATIONS have prevented this? You know, GOVERNMENT

[FarPoint]

2. Bad things happen to good people ...

It sounds like a freak accident, over site...their reputation is mud right now. Sad.

[cosmicone]

4. Blue Bell knew about the Listeria problem 2 years ago yet failed

Last edited Fri May 15, 2015, 07:39 PM - Edit history (1)

to correct.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/08/business/blue-bell-knew-about-listeria-issues-fda-says.html?_r=0

[dixiegrrrrl]

6. Yeah, that lil nugget is why I won't buy it when it comes back.

I wish Breyer's did not taste like the cardboard that contains it.

Looks like Haagen Daz is the only option.
We don't eat ice cream very often, but sadly had 2 Blue Bell half gallons in freezer for summer.

[gelsdorf]

13. A lot of Bryers isn't even Ice Cream anymore

check the package, Ice Milk @ Ice Cream prices

[Kelvin Mace]

17. The Kirkland brand at Costco

Is very good and still sold in genuine half gallon containers.

[dixiegrrrrl]

19. I haz a sad.....not near any decent stores like Costco

We are very rural out here, only the Wal-Marts make it this far, plus Winn-Dixie.

[Kelvin Mace]

23. Bummer

Wal-Mart has a lock on the rural locations.

[Cosmocat]

21. Right?

Breyer's is absurdly bad for a brand name ...

[Kablooie]

24. Dreyer's was a lot better.

[FarPoint]

8. OUCH!

That is really ignorant of them.....

[stonecutter357]

14. I worked at the plant in sylacauga in the 90's

And i have medical records to prove it was there in the 90's.

[jmowreader]

11. Bite your tongue. We ARE talking about Texas here

Remember, Randy...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Fertilizer_Company_explosion

in Texas you can blow an entire town off the map and the state won't hassle you at all! Given that, what's a little listeria among friends?

[dixiegrrrrl]

22. Blue Bell has plants in other states, too.

One is here in Ala.

[TexasTowelie]

3. More information:

http://bizbeatblog.dallasnews.com/2015/05/blue-bell-to-layoff-1400-employees.html/

Some employees are going to see salary cuts, while employees at several distribution centers across the country will be laid off.

[Journeyman]

5. With all the equipment in place, probably best to find a buyer for the company. . .

Let another brand name take over operations, clean up the place and put new control measures in place, then resume selling the same product under a different brand name. It'd help alleviate some of the job losses and keep all their suppliers operational as well.

Hope they can make the best of a lousy situation.

[jtuck004]

9. Merely a setback. Killing a few people and making hundreds sick is just business.

For example:

"The 1993 Jack in the Box E. coli outbreak occurred when 732 people were infected with the Escherichia coli O157:H7 bacterium originating from undercooked beef patties in hamburgers.[1][2][3] The outbreak involved 73 Jack in the Box restaurants in California, Idaho, Washington and Nevada and has been described as "far and away the most infamous food poison outbreak in contemporary history."[4][5][6] The majority of the victims were children aged under 10-years old.[7][8] Four children died (including one child who became ill due to contact with another child sick with e.coli) [9] and 178 other victims were left with permanent injury including kidney and brain damage.[10][11][12][13]
"

WIki

Heck, with a little luck they will figure out a way to make money from it.

[dixiegrrrrl]

20. After all the lawsuits are settled, they may need a buyer. n/t

[Dustlawyer]

7. Bet the CEO and upper Mngmt don't get their pay cut!

[TexasTowelie]

10. It's a privately held company so I wouldn't necessarily believe that to be true.

Considering that their entire livelihood is at jeopardy it would be intelligent to reduce their salaries during the short term.

[bedazzled]

12. blue bell was g.w. bush's favorite ice cream - he served it in the white house

i laughed to myself at the time. foreign dignitaries being served that crap.

no great surprise it's toxic.

worst ice cream EVER. sorry some folks are losing their jobs, though.

[Paladin]

16. I'm sure your unconditional support will see those ex-Blue Bell workers through it all. (nt)

[Sunlei]

15. finally Listeria is considered a contaminate when its all over the factory. Now with chicken

they need to test machinery & close the contaminated factories. Start to test the cut chicken parts and ground poultry for salmonella.

[Rock_pile]

18. Blue bell's future

It seems when business has a quality scandal like this they file bankruptcy to avoid lawsuits. I expect BB to be sold to an conglomerate. Want good ice cream? Braums. (Or make your own.)