Peru's Grupo Gloria has confirmed a decision to shut down its dairy plant in Nueva Helvecia, Uruguay, where it manufactured Parmalat's products under the brand Ercolat.
Fernando Devoto, Grupo Gloria's corporate legal director told just-food: "the company’s administration is currently dedicated to finalise an orderly closure of the operation" in Uruguay.
Devoto denied the closure is related to Parmalat’s recent acquisition of La Esmeralda group, with facilities in Mexico, Argentina and Uruguay.
Recently Grupo Gloria initiated a restructuring process, which involved firing over 100 workers. It triggered a labour dispute that led the company to close the plant.
The Ercolat facility was Grupo Gloria's only business in Uruguay. The conglomerate, which has interests in other sectors including cement and paper has food assets in Peru, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Colombia, Bolivia and Ecuador.
