Nestlé is cutting jobs at its Solon factory, affecting 216 employees, to streamline its manufacturing operations, moving production from the Solon facility to its other locations in the U.S., according to a spokesperson talking to FOX 8 News on Monday. 

Nestlé's Future Expansion in the Growing Business Environment

The Solon factory will continue to be involved in the company's expanding out-of-home business, suggesting potential growth as the business environment changes. Nestlé is dedicated to supporting employees through this transition by offering comprehensive separation packages and working with officials for resources. "Impacted employees will also be able to apply for open roles at other Nestlé manufacturing facilities, including those in Ohio."

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Nestlé reaffirms its commitment to Ohio, which employs over 3,000 people in nine facilities, including Nestlé USA's corporate campus and factory, a Nestle Professional factory, two Purina factories, a Nespresso boutique, a sales office, a quality assurance lab, and an R&D center.

Layoff History in Solon, Ohio

The company revealed 77 layoffs at its Solon campus near Bainbridge and Harper roads, which started on New Year's Eve and will continue until August 2, 2024, as Nestle sets itself up to stay ahead of changing market and consumer trends, saying, "We are making changes to some of our Solon teams, which unfortunately results in the elimination of certain positions," a Nestlé spokesperson told 3News in a statement.

Nestlé has been a part of Northeast Ohio since the Stouffer family started in the restaurant industry in 1922; its frozen food line was introduced in 1950, the Solon production facility was constructed in 1968, and Nestlé S.A. acquired the business in 1973.

Nestlé Launches Global R&D Center

Nestlé's Solon campus has been established as the "Center of Excellence" for frozen and chilled foods that houses other Nestlé businesses and functions with almost 3,000 people employed. The company inaugurated its $50 million research and development center on Cannon Road in Solon 2013. It has a 144,000-square-foot facility where Nestlé R&D Solon will blend consumer-focused innovation with technological leadership to meet global needs. This growth, driven by popular Nestlé brands in different categories, necessitated an expanded and collaborative research and development effort.

Nestlé R&D Solon will also innovate and renovate products to meet Nestlé's Nutrition Foundation requirements while balancing taste with nutrition, including ways to reduce sodium and saturated fat, eliminate partially hydrogenated oils, incorporate more vegetables, and create gluten-free and high-protein options. They will also offer technical support to Nestlé production facilities worldwide and provide expertise in nutrition, food processing, food quality, and food safety, which includes a pilot plant incorporated in the design to evaluate and refine the latest technology advancements and new recipes for introduction into the marketplace. 

Nestlé has been a consistent employer in the region. Since Nestlé Pizza moved to Solon in 2014 and established the new facility, Nestlé now employs over 2,200 people in the Cleveland area, 3,400 in Ohio, and over 51,000 in the United States. Nestlé R&D Solon comprises 120 professionals, including chefs, researchers, packaging specialists, designers, engineers, and scientists. Since the project was announced in 2013, more than 40 employees have joined the center.

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