HanesBrands, Winston-Salem, N.C., is closing its sock-making plant in Mount Airy, N.C.
About 220 employees will be impacted, and jobs will be transferred to its operations in El Salvador, according to the company.
HanesBrands will offer jobs at its nearby distribution centers to displaced employees. The nearest operation is located in Rural Hall, N.C., about 30 miles south of Mount Airy. The other distribution centers are in Winston-Salem and High Point, N.C., with more located in North Carolina and Virginia.
“We have done all that we can over the years to keep our Mount Airy facility competitive in the global sock manufacturing industry,” says Mike Faircloth, president of the global supply chain, information technology and e-commerce for Hanes. “Unfortunately, the higher costs of raw materials, including polyester, in the Western Hemisphere, necessitate that we realign our global sock manufacturing.
“We have a great workforce and management team at the plant who have been instrumental in keeping the facility for four decades,” he adds. “We regret the need to close the facility, and we hope to mitigate the impact by placing as many employees who want jobs in our distribution centers.”
The company plans to eventually sell the plant and will phase out production starting in May and ending in October. — D.S.
