Kelley Beekeeping is transitioning from production to distribution as its parent company, Minnesota-based Mann Lake Ltd., has laid off over two dozen employees as the Clarkson facility is re-tooled.
Mann Lake’s Human Resources Business Partner Atul Ghimire told K105 that the company laid off 30 employees on Monday and moved 10 employees from production to distribution. That leaves 57 workers currently employed by Kelley Beekeeping.
Production for Mann Lake Ltd. will move to the company’s headquarters in Hackensack, Minnesota.
More Kelley Beekeeping employees were not moved to production due to a lack of space. A re-tooling of the Clarkson facility, though, will allow the company to begin “aggressive hiring” in six months as Kelley Beekeeping will become the “distribution hub for the entire company,” Ghimire said, which is the largest supplier of beekeeping products in the U.S., with facilities in Florida, California, Oregon, and Texas in addition to the Clarkson location.
While Kelley Beekeeping is transitioning to distribution, Ghimire said that wax production at the facility will continue.
Clarkson Mayor Bonnie Henderson felt a sense of relief after learning the details of the re-structuring.
“At first I was very sad, but I have spoken with Atul Ghimire and I do feel better about what is happening,” Henderson told K105. “I do feel sorry for the employees that have lost their jobs. Hopefully they will have a spot for them in the future.”
Ghimire stressed to K105 that Mann Lake Ltd. has no intention of closing Kelley Beekeeping, as the facility is one of the most important components of the company.
Kelley Beekeeping moved into a new 82,000-square-foot facility, costing $7.5 million, in September 2016. In November 2018, Kelley Beekeeping was purchased by Mann Lake Ltd. from Fransden Corporation, which acquired Kelley Beekeeping in 2014.
Established in 1924, Kelley Beekeeping moved from Paducah to Clarkson in 1952.
(Photo: Kelley Beekeeping, courtesy of Bee Culture)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
