By Lawrence Powell

Spectator

NovaNewsNow.com



TRA Foods is closing its administrative offices in Middleton in early February, putting 30 employees out of work, staff learned Thursday.

Andrew Walker, Sobeys Inc. vice-president of communications and corporate affairs in Toronto, said 107 other jobs in TRA Middleton’s distribution centre are unaffected.

Walker said in total 120 TRA jobs in the Atlantic region will be affected by internal restructuring and job re-alignments. Besides the 30 jobs eliminated in Middleton, 23 other employees will lose their jobs across the region, including 10 in Stellarton. Sixty-seven other employees will be reassigned.

Walker said the move was consistent with Sobeys’ strategy to focus on supporting its many stores and doing business more efficiently.

Walker said that ultimately the restructuring will impact consumers in a positive way.

“Everything we do in our company is to benefit our customers in our stores,�? he said. “Changes in the Atlantic region support our focus on the customer.�?

TRA staff across the region learned of the changes at a series of meetings Thursday in which he said employees were treated with respect and dignity.

Walker said severance packages will be offered specific to individual employees. While he could not go into specifics about the severance pay, he said it would be fair.

“They will received the dignity and respect they deserve,�? he said, noting Middleton has many long-time, dedicated and loyal staff.

Sobeys Inc. owns or franchises more than 1,300 stores in all 10 provinces. In the Atlantic region, there are 343 corporate stores, 43 franchised stores, and nine distribution centres. Retail banners include Sobeys, IGA extra, Foodland, and Price Choppers. Other names are Clover Farm, Lawtons, Needs, and Cash and Carry.

Sobeys closed its TRA facility in West Royalty, P.E.I. in 2005, after which P.E.I. customers were supplied from TRA’s Retail Support Centre in Oromocto, N.B. Fifty-nine jobs were affected.