(Bloomberg) – Blue Bell Creameries Inc., the ice cream company linked to a listeria outbreak that killed three people, will furlough or fire almost 3,000 workers after it had to shut down most production.
About 1,400 employees will be furloughed and an additional 1,450 part- and full-time workers will be laid off, the Brenham, Texas-based company said in a statement Friday. Blue Bell also is cutting salaries as it tries to bounce back from an incident that forced it to recall 8 million gallons of ice cream. The company's total staff numbered 3,900.
"The agonizing decision to lay off hundreds of our great workers and reduce hours and pay for others was the most difficult one I have had to make in my time as Blue Bell's CEO and president," Paul Kruse said in the statement. "We have an obligation to do what is necessary to bring Blue Bell back and ensure its viability in the future."
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