Lancaster Foods To Close Jessup Plant, 400 Jobs Affected

JESSUP, MD — Lancaster Foods LLC plans to close its Jessup plant before the end of the year, potentially impacting more than 400 jobs, according to a notice filed with the Maryland Department of Labor.

In a WARN notice filed with the state, the company plans to close the plant at 7700 Conowingo Ave. on Dec. 14. According to the notice, the closure could affect 424 employees.

The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act is a federal law designed to protect workers, their families and communities by requiring employers to provide notice 60 days before a business closing and mass layoff.

According to a Baltimore Sun report, operations at the Jessup plant will be consolidated with a nearby plant.

More than two-thirds of full-time workers have been offered a transfer to another facility, a spokesperson from Lancaster’s parent company Sysco told the Sun.

According to the Sun, the decision to consolidate the Lancaster Foods plant with another Sysco facility comes as the company continues to review its practices to bolster “core business.”

“We believe this is the right strategic and financial decision for Sysco and our specialty brands. Growing and strengthening our specialty brands to support our core business and provide our customers with a diverse product line remains a key part of Sysco’s strategy,” a statement provided to the Sun.

Founded in Pennsylvania by brothers John and Dave Gates, Lancaster Foods moved its operations to Frederick and later Jessup. In 2008, the company moved into its current 220,000-square-foot distribution and processing center in Jessup.

The company employs nearly 700 people, according to its website.