Less of an Economic Blow to Tarrytown: A Slimmer Kraft Will Stay

 had  that their Tarrytown beverages unit would close by the end of the year, much of the staff would be relocated to the Chicago metropolitan area, and those hundred-plus left behind would work somewhere to-be-determined in the region. Now, the good news comes that these remaining employees will be able to stay put.

“On March 21, we told our employees in Tarrytown that the approximately 140 research and development employees who support our U.S. Beverages business unit would remain in Tarrytown,” said Michael Mitchell, Corporate External Communications of Kraft Foods.

“Having the majority of our businesses physically together lets us more quickly create a shared culture and foster greater collaboration while reducing the overall costs of maintaining multiple facilities,” said Mitchell, explaining the mass migration westward. “It also provides greater development opportunities for our people.”

Keeping the Beverages R&D team in Tarrytown is not a shift in plans, Mitchell said. “On Jan. 17, we noted that the Beverages R&D team would remain in the area, but we were unable to confirm the location at that time. We’re pleased we can now confirm that they will be able to stay in Tarrytown.”

As Patch has previously written, the company is both consolidating (eliminating about 1,600 positions in North America this year) and splitting: the company will divide into North American grocery company and global snacks company, both to be headquartered in the Chicago area. The North American region headquarters for the global snacks company will be based at the East Hanover, New Jersey campus.

Kraft Foods is located at 550 South Broadway, Tarrytown, NY. 914-425-2500. www.kraftfoodscompany.com.