Welch's shifts staff from Westfield - Newsline - New York - Brief Article

Rural Cooperatives, March-April, 2002

Welch's the standard bearer in the grape processing industry, has ended a traditional presence in Westfield, N.Y., which began more than 100 years ago when the company founder moved the operation there. In a move to save money and blend its corporate office operation into its headquarters staff at Concord, Mass., Welch's pulled its 93 employees from Westfield, offering some an opportunity to relocate and others telecommuting jobs. Welch's parent firm, the National Grape Cooperative, will retain a staff of 12 in Westfield plus another 25 at a processing plant.

Concord and Niagara grapes used in the operation are still grown in the area. When Welch's moved its corporate offices to Concord in 1983, it had 380 employees at Westfield. The original Welch's plant, built in 1897, still exists. During its tenure in the community, the company and its employees were deeply involved with local school, contributing both time and money. In 2000, company employees founded a Junior Achievement chapter at the middle school and last fall Welch Treasurer Steve Robbins received the district's Friend of Education award.