Maple Leaf Foods has announced that it will be closing its turkey processing plant in Thamesford, resulting in the loss of 400 jobs.
In a news release, the company said the plant is expected to close by early 2018, and operations will be moved to the Sofina Foods facility in Mitchell. The transition is expected to take place over the next 18 months.
"This was a very difficult decision given the impact on our employees and the community, but necessary given the substantial physical limitations at our 80-year-old Thamesford plant," said Public Relations Director Annemarie Dijkhuis in the release.
The company says it will be providing affected employees access to an employment centre to help with job searching and interview skills, as well as personal counselling.