FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WNCN) — Devastating news came at the end of May for nearly 200 employees in Fayetteville when Alpek notified them the plant would be closing by July 31.
Alpek is a Mexico-based manufacturer of polyester, plastics and chemicals used primarily in food and beverage packaging. They operate across eight locations with six in Mexico and two in North Carolina. The NC-based plants are in Charlotte and Fayetteville, near the Cedar Creek community.
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In an announcement posted on May 30, Alpek announced the closure of its Cedar Creek facility, which was acquired in 2001. A filing obtained by sister station CBS 17 through the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act shows a total of 180 employees are being affected by this permanent closure.
The company called it a “strategic decision” to cease operations there—which comes as part of Alpek’s cost reduction initiatives.
With the goal of solidifying its core business while strengthening its financial position, the company said the “optimization” will generate about $20 million in annual savings…