Unilever Implements Layoffs at Two New York Plants
Beauty and personal care layoffs are happening at two of Unilever’s manufacturing plants in New York.
In a filing to the New York Labor Department, the global personal care giant revealed that 169 layoffs will take place in April 2024 at two separate plants in Amityville and Farmingdale, both on Long Island. The majority will occur at the former location.
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“Unilever is ending manufacturing of beauty and personal care products in Amityville, N.Y., in April of next year and will transfer production to other locations in our U.S. manufacturing network. We will also end operations at the plant’s warehouse in Farmingdale, N.Y.,” a spokesperson for Unilever said.
“We are realigning production to support our growth plans for these product categories as the Amityville factory site has considerable size constraints that limit its ability to expand,” the spokesperson continued. “The sites’ employees have the opportunity to apply for open positions at other Unilever sites with relocation provided. We will also provide outplacement services, reskilling education and development training.”
In October, the company’s new chief executive officer Hein Schumacher unveiled an “action plan” to simplify and streamline the business and focus on the top 30 “power brands,” which are growing faster than the company average and which generate more than 70 percent of turnover. In beauty, those brands include Dove, Dermalogica, Paula’s Choice and Pond’s.
“Not all of our acquisitions have delivered, and we’ve made some unsuccessful attempts to move away from our core,” said Schumacher. “We need to leverage science and technology across the brands, and focus on a smaller number of bigger opportunities.”
At the same time, Unilever revealed the sale of Dollar Shave Club to Nexus Capital Management LP, a U.S.-based private equity firm. Unilever will retain a 35 percent minority stake in the maker of razors, electric trimmers and men’s grooming products.
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