Much of the production will remain in Louisiana as it moves to the Hammond facility – less than an hour north of New Orleans.
Dean Foods spokesperson Dustin Cox told DairyReporter, “The fluid milk processing facility that Dean Foods operates in New Orleans, Louisiana, will come to an end as a result of our need to enhance manufacturing capabilities in the area. This decision was made after a careful review of the facility and how we can best support our customers in the region.”
Cox said that production will be phased out over the next several months.
“We will certainly make everyone aware of open positions throughout Dean Foods and encourage them to consider applying,” he said.
A quick online search with several online job sites for Dean Foods openings in Hammond revealed around 11 publicly advertized positions available.
DR was told that Brown’s products will continue to be available to consumers in New Orleans and existing markets, which include southeast Louisiana, southern Mississippi, and parts of southern Alabama.
Cox added, “We regret the impact that this result will have on our employees and our community. The decision to eliminate jobs in any part of our business is never an easy one. This move does not reflect the quality of work performed by our Brown’s Dairy employees, but the need to enhance our capabilities.”
On the Brown's Dairy page on Dean Foods’ website, it states, “Brown's Dairy boasts a history that's rich in heritage and tradition. Founded in New Orleans in 1905 as Brown's Velvet Dairy, we still use "Smooth as Velvet" to describe our delicious family of milk products.”