Farmington Nutrition Company Closes Without Notice

FARMINGTON, CT — Employees of a longtime Farmington-based nutrition company received an unexpected and unwelcome surprise upon arriving at work Monday - a notice taped to the door indicating the company had closed without warning.

Ultimate Nutrition, based at 7 Corporate Avenue, had a notice posted on the door which read, "If you are reading this, please be informed that your employment has been terminated effective August 17, 2019. A packet of information will be sent to your mailing address within the next few days."

The notice concluded with, "We wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors."

The company, founded in 1979, manufactures body supplements and protein powders.

Steve Jensen, director of communications for the Connecticut Department of Labor, said employers are required to file notice with the agency if they have more than 100 full-time employees and plan to terminate at least 50 percent of those. "In this case, our records show that Ultimate reported to us that they paid 61 workers in the first quarter of this year, so apparently were not required to notify us," he said. "We also have tried to reach the company, but have gotten no response. We have received a few calls from employees and are working with them to apply for unemployment benefits, file a complaint about not receiving wages or to receive job-seeking counseling and other services."

The Hartford Business Journal reported a Farmington police officer went to the campus Monday and unsuccessfully attempted to reach company owner Brian Rubino, then told employees seeking to retrieve their personal belongings to do so via civil action.