Penn Traffic Announces 100 Staff Reductions
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Financially troubled Penn Traffic Co. announced Tuesday that it was cutting 100 administrative and supervisory positions as it tries to cut costs and emerge from bankruptcy protection.
According to company spokesman Marc Jampole, the positions fall across all departments and include 64 in Syracuse; 22 in Columbus, Ohio; nine in DuBois, Pa.; and five in Jamestown, N.Y.
"Of course, we sympathize with the affected employees and their families, whose lives will be disrupted by these layoffs," said Steven G. Panagos, interim c.e.o. "But like any company in Chapter 11 reorganization, Penn Traffic must reduce costs and operate as efficiently as possible."
In May the company filed for protection from its creditors after fierce competition, stagnant food prices, a weak economy and rising employee benefit costs eroded profits.
It was Penn Traffic's second such filing in four years.
In July, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in White Plains, N.Y. approved $270 million in interim financing to help Penn Traffic continue operating.
Panagos said the company would keep the affected workers updated on the status of a motion the company is filing with the court to obtain approval of severance benefits.
Penn Traffic operates 211 supermarkets in upstate New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Vermont, and New Hampshire under the names Big Bear, Big Bear Plus, BiLo, Quality, and P&C. It employs 16,000 people in the six states.
According to company spokesman Marc Jampole, the positions fall across all departments and include 64 in Syracuse; 22 in Columbus, Ohio; nine in DuBois, Pa.; and five in Jamestown, N.Y.
"Of course, we sympathize with the affected employees and their families, whose lives will be disrupted by these layoffs," said Steven G. Panagos, interim c.e.o. "But like any company in Chapter 11 reorganization, Penn Traffic must reduce costs and operate as efficiently as possible."
In May the company filed for protection from its creditors after fierce competition, stagnant food prices, a weak economy and rising employee benefit costs eroded profits.
It was Penn Traffic's second such filing in four years.
In July, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in White Plains, N.Y. approved $270 million in interim financing to help Penn Traffic continue operating.
Panagos said the company would keep the affected workers updated on the status of a motion the company is filing with the court to obtain approval of severance benefits.
Penn Traffic operates 211 supermarkets in upstate New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Vermont, and New Hampshire under the names Big Bear, Big Bear Plus, BiLo, Quality, and P&C. It employs 16,000 people in the six states.