Bob Evans Shutters Illinois Sausage Production Ops

COLUMBUS, OhioBob Evans Farms has closed its fresh sausage production facility in Galva, Ill., because of excess capacity and diminishing supply in the live sow market. Production from the facility will be distributed among Bob Evans facilities in Xenia and Bidwell, Ohio; Hillsdale, Mich.; and Richardson, Texas.

The facilitys approximate 70 employees will receive severance compensation, and the company is offering opportunities for transfer within the company with the goal to absorb as many displaced employees as possible.

This was a very difficult decision," said Mike Townsley, president of Bob Evans Food Products. We have great employees at our Galva facility, and we have a long history there. Our business model needs to adapt to these tough market conditions. We need to manage our assets to stay competitive long term."