The sweet smell of java over Freehold NJ, may waft away with the threatened closing of Nestle plant

UPDATE: Nestlé to close Freehold coffee plant 

By TED GOLDBERG, NJ Spotlight

For decades, a Nestlé instant coffee factory in Freehold has kept a faint scent of coffee in the air and hundreds of local people employed. But that could soon change. Workers at the plant rallied on Tuesday to protest the rumored closure of the facility, a move that would mean the elimination of 200 union jobs.

“We want a decision. We obviously want a favorable decision that the factory stays open. But the uncertainty is really hard to live with because you don’t know what plans you can make. You don’t know what the future holds,” said Craig Slininger, who has worked at the plant for 26 years.

Freehold Mayor Kevin Kane said he has reached out to state and federal legislators to see what can be done about protecting those jobs and the people who depend on them. “There’s a lot of residual impact, you know, with the closure of a plant like this for this immediate area. We have great restaurants right on Route 33 here. And, you know, a closure of a plant like this will have a direct effect on restaurants, our downtown businesses and things like that,” said Kane.

Nestlé told NJ Spotlight News in a statement that the company is having ongoing discussions with the local union and elected officials about the possible closure, but hinted that the facility is outdated and no longer cost-effective in the company’s eyes. “Decisional bargaining with the union has concluded, and our leadership team will now make a final decision regarding the factory,” a Nestlé spokesperson said. “We are committed to giving our Freehold employees updates in a timely manner.