Nestlé Confirms Global Layoffs — Will Gaffney, South Carolina Factory Be Safe?
GAFFNEY, SOUTH CAROLINA — Global food manufacturer Nestlé has announced a sweeping plan to cut 16,000 jobs worldwide over the next two years as part of a cost-reduction strategy aimed at improving efficiency and rebuilding investor trust. The move has raised local concerns about potential impacts on the company’s long-standing Gaffney, South Carolina plant.
Thousands of Jobs to Be Cut as Nestlé Restructures
Nestlé’s new CEO, Philipp Navratil, revealed the plan on October 16, saying the company must “change faster” to stay competitive in a shifting global market.
The layoffs — representing nearly 5.8% of Nestlé’s total workforce — will primarily target white-collar employees and certain manufacturing roles as part of a broad operational overhaul.
According to Reuters, about 12,000 office-based positions and 4,000 supply chain or production jobs will be eliminated between now and 2027. The company has also expanded its cost-savings target from 2.5 billion to 3 billion Swiss francs ($3.77 billion) over the same period.
“The world is changing, and Nestlé needs to change faster,” Navratil stated.
No Layoffs Reported Yet at Gaffney Facility
As of October 17, no layoffs have been announced at Nestlé’s Gaffney plant, and no WARN notices have been filed with South Carolina Works, which would be required if mass layoffs were planned.
The Gaffney facility, opened in 1980, is one of 112 Nestlé-owned U.S. manufacturing sites. In 2024, the company invested $150 million into expanding the Cherokee County plant — a sign that it continues to play a vital role in Nestlé’s American operations.
Local officials remain optimistic that the facility will be unaffected, pointing to the plant’s recent expansion and high production output as indicators of stability.
A Look at Nestlé’s Global Reach
Nestlé remains the world’s largest packaged food company, employing approximately 277,000 people worldwide and producing a vast range of household brands including:
- Toll House
- Coffee Mate
- DiGiorno
- Gerber
- Stouffer’s
- Häagen-Dazs
- Nespresso
- Fancy Feast
- Lean Cuisine
- Blue Bottle Coffee
Despite the upcoming cuts, Nestlé executives say the company will continue to focus on automation, digital transformation, and product innovation to strengthen its competitive position.
South Carolina Workers Watching Closely
With no layoffs reported locally, Nestlé employees in Gaffney remain cautiously hopeful. Still, state economic officials encourage workers to remain aware of updates as global corporate adjustments unfold through 2027.
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