Whole Foods owned Pigeon Cove fish processor to shut down

Second major US seafood processor annouced it was to cease production. However, city officials are hoping for a last minute reprieve to save jobs.

Another seafood processor in Gloucester, Massachusetts, US, is to cease production with the loss of 59 employees, reports Gloucester Times. Pigeon Cove – which produced Smoke House Salmon products amonst many others – was owned by Whole Foods Market – in turn who are owned by Amazon.

Whole Foods Market Pigeon Cove Smoke House Salmon (farmed). PHOTO: Whole Foods

“This is to inform you that Whole Foods Market’s North Atlantic Region will be permanently closing its entire Pigeon Cove Seafood facility located at 15 Parker St., Gloucester, MA 01930 effective Aug. 15, 2019,” stated Whole Foods’ letter to Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken. “The closing will impact approximately 59 employees.”

The Pigeon Cove plant more than 20 years, cleans, cuts, packs and ships seafood for Whole Foods stores. It no longer handles local seafood, the publication wrote.

Executives from Whole Foods have agreed to travel to the city within the next week to meet with local officials about the company’s plan.

It’s yet another blow to the Bay State, as only last month National Fish & Seafood ceased production only a few doors down – under the weight of criminal prosecutions and bankruptcy. Approximately 150 employees have been given a severance package.

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