What’s Going on at Wonderbrands?
Wonderbrands is shutting down its sliced bread production line in Sudbury, affecting 50 full- and part-time workers, according to a statement shared with CBC News.
- The affected brands include Wonder, D’Italiano, and Country Harvest, widely distributed across Canada.
- Production on the sliced bread line will stop October 6, though bun roll production will continue at the facility.
- The company says the decision reflects a “sustained industry-wide shift in bread consumption“, with no plans to eliminate baking operations in the region entirely.
Union and Community Response
United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 175 is sounding the alarm over broader community impacts.
- “This is not just job losses for the affected workers. It’s a loss for the entire northern Ontario community,” said Debora De Angelis, UFCW Local 175 representative.
Industry Trends and Expert Analysis
Michael von Massow, food economist at the University of Guelph, says the shutdown reflects broader market realities:
- “It’s not that people are eating less bread,” he said, “but that they’re eating a wider variety of breads.“
- Traditional sliced bread products are being outpaced by artisan, sourdough, gluten-free, and specialty loaves, shifting demand away from mass-produced options.
- Von Massow also noted the logistical costs of running production in northern Ontario, which make it harder for facilities like Sudbury’s to remain competitive.
Bigger Picture for Sudbury’...
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