Brooke Martin
Yankee Candle, the Massachusetts-based candle company, is reportedly closing its South Deerfield distribution center and offices, resulting in the loss of around 100 jobs. The company's flagship store, manufacturing facility, and research lab will, however, remain open. This downsizing is part of a larger trend, with the company closing many of its 700 locations and focusing on selling its products through existing contacts with big-box stores like Walmart and Target.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Parent company | Newell Brands |
| Date of closure | 9 September 2024 |
| Location of closure | South Deerfield, Massachusetts |
| Number of job losses | 100 |
| Reason for closure | Supply chain consolidation and optimisation efforts |
| Other locations | Flagship Yankee Candle Village store, manufacturing facility, and research lab in western Massachusetts |
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What You'll Learn
Yankee Candle is closing its South Deerfield distribution centre
The South Deerfield distribution centre, located at 27 Yankee Candle Way, will be relocated to another one of the company's distribution centres. Newell Brands initially announced the downsizing plans in January 2023, and the closure will result in the layoff of approximately 100 employees. The company has emphasised that the flagship Yankee Candle Village store, manufacturing facility, and research lab in western Massachusetts will remain open.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Newell Brands expressed gratitude to the affected employees for their service and dedication. They also affirmed the company's commitment to supporting these employees through the transition process, including providing transition benefits and encouraging them to apply for open positions at other local facilities.
The closure of the South Deerfield distribution centre follows the shuttering of Yankee Candle's corporate offices in the same town in 2023. According to a letter published by then-Newell Brands CEO Ravi Saligram, the restructuring and streamlining of operations were necessary to cut overhead expenses and take decisive action with their real estate portfolio. The company expects pre-tax savings of $65 to $90 million from these changes.
The downsizing and closure of the South Deerfield distribution centre are part of a broader trend within Yankee Candle and its parent company, Newell Brands. The company has closed many of its locations, and there are reports of difficulties in finding Yankee Candle stores. Additionally, there have been changes in the ownership of the company, with sales to Jarden and Newell (Rubbermaid) in 2013 and 2016, respectively, leading to price increases and expanded sales through retailers like Walmart and Target.
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The closure will result in 100+ job losses
Yankee Candle is closing its South Deerfield, Massachusetts distribution center and offices on September 9, 2024. The parent company of Yankee Candle, Newell Brands, says it plans to lay off around 100 employees.
Newell Brands initially announced the downsizing in January 2023, but has now disclosed the closing date of the specific 27 Yankee Candle Way offices. The facility will remain open but will now serve as an auxiliary warehouse for Yankee Candle and other Newell Brand products.
In a statement to 22News, a spokesperson for Newell Brands said, "September 9th is the last day for employees who are exiting the business and for some operations specific to those roles. We thank them for their service and dedication and are committed to supporting them with transition benefits."
The closure of the South Deerfield distribution center follows the shuttering of Yankee Candle's corporate offices in town in 2023 amid a restructuring and streamlining of Newell Brands' operations. The company cut roughly 13% of its employees last year.
Newell Brands has filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act notification with the Commonwealth announcing the layoffs. The company plans to "reduce its office roles by approximately 7%."
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Newell Brands is the parent company of Yankee Candle
Yankee Candle is a company that has been in the business of manufacturing and selling scented candles for over 50 years. The company was founded in 1969 by Michael Kittredge in South Hadley, Massachusetts. In 2013, Yankee Candle was acquired by Jarden, which was then purchased by Newell Rubbermaid in 2016 for over $15 billion. The new company was named Newell Brands.
Newell Brands is a large corporation that owns many well-known brands such as Graco, Rubbermaid, and Sharpie. In 2017, Newell Brands expanded its candle business by acquiring Smith Mountain Industries, the makers of the Woodwick brand of candles. Woodwick candles are now a premium brand sold by Yankee Candle. Newell Brands also acquired Chesapeake Bay Candle in 2017 for $75 million.
In 2020, the Newell Brands Home Fragrance Business Unit, which includes Yankee Candle, WoodWick, and Chesapeake Bay, opened a state-of-the-art 20,300 sq. ft. Research & Development (R&D) Lab in South Deerfield, Massachusetts. This facility, along with another production facility in Whately, MA, produces roughly 45 million candles per year.
In July 2024, Newell Brands announced that it would be closing the Yankee Candle distribution center and offices in South Deerfield, Massachusetts, laying off around 100 employees. The company stated that this decision was made as part of its supply chain consolidation and optimization efforts. However, they also mentioned that there would be no changes to their other Yankee Candle operations in Western Massachusetts, including the flagship Yankee Candle Village store, manufacturing facility, and research lab.
In conclusion, Newell Brands is the parent company of Yankee Candle, and while they have made the difficult decision to close one of Yankee Candle's distribution centers, they remain committed to the Yankee Candle brand and its presence in Western Massachusetts.
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The flagship store, manufacturing facility, and research lab will remain open
Yankee Candle Inc. is closing its South Deerfield, Massachusetts distribution centre and offices on 9 September 2024. The parent company, Newell Brands, has said that around 100 employees will be laid off as a result.
However, the flagship store, manufacturing facility, and research lab will remain open. Newell Brands has stated that there will be "no changes" to these operations in Western Massachusetts. The company spokesperson said:
> "Yankee was founded in the area, and we are committed to maintaining a strong local presence with our flagship Yankee Candle Village store and various research, manufacturing, distribution and office facilities."
The flagship store, manufacturing facility, and research lab are all located in the Yankee Candle Village, which first opened in 1983. The company was founded in the area over five decades ago and has stated its intention to maintain a presence in the community.
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The company is restructuring and consolidating its services
Yankee Candle is not closing, but its parent company, Newell Brands, has announced that it is restructuring and consolidating its services. As part of this process, Newell Brands is closing its South Deerfield distribution facility and offices on September 9, 2024, resulting in around 100 layoffs. The company has stated that the decision is part of its supply chain consolidation and optimization efforts, and that it is committed to supporting affected employees with transition benefits.
Newell Brands initially announced the downsizing of the South Deerfield facility in January 2023, with plans to relocate distribution operations to another one of its distribution centers. The company spokesperson emphasized that there would be no changes to other Yankee Candle operations in Western Massachusetts, including the flagship Yankee Candle Village store, manufacturing facility, and research lab.
The South Deerfield distribution center's closure follows the shuttering of Yankee Candle's corporate offices in the same town in 2023. In a letter published by then-Newell Brands CEO Ravi Saligram, the company attributed the restructuring and streamlining of its operations to a need to cut overhead expenses and taking decisive action with its real estate portfolio. The company also cut approximately 13% of its global workforce as part of the restructuring.
Newell Brands, which acquired Yankee Candle in 2016, owns several other well-known brands, including Graco, Rubbermaid, and Sharpie. The company has stated that it expects pre-tax savings in the range of $65 to $90 million from the consolidation of its distribution facilities.
In addition to the consolidation of its distribution operations, Newell Brands has also filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act notification with the Commonwealth, announcing the layoffs. The company has expressed its commitment to supporting affected employees and encouraging them to apply for open positions at its other local facilities.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Yankee Candle is closing its South Deerfield, Massachusetts distribution center and offices on September 9, 2024. However, the flagship Yankee Candle Village store, manufacturing facility, and research lab will remain open in western Massachusetts.
The parent company of Yankee Candle, Newell Brands, is focusing on consolidating its services and optimizing its supply chain. The company also plans to reduce its office roles by approximately 7%.
Approximately 100 employees will lose their jobs as a result of the consolidation with the parent company. Newell Brands has stated that they are committed to supporting affected employees with transition benefits.
