Church & Dwight to relocate from N.B.
Company will move to Pa. next year; 300 employees affected
BY JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer
Church & Dwight announced last week that it will cease production at its township facility in 2009 and will instead construct a new integrated laundry detergent and manufacturing plant and distribution center in Pennsylvania.

The company will leave North Brunswick in 2009 and make the transition to Jackson Township, in York County, because of its expanding fabric care business.

"This new site will allow us to continue to grow our fabric care business in a facility that can handle the current and anticipated additional base volume growth for our core businesses, support future potential acquisitions and position our business to be among the industry leaders in low-cost production and distribution in the future. Since our fabric care business is our largest business, this initiative will play a key role in helping to drive our long-term goals for revenue growth and gross margin expansion. Specifically, the new site is designed to significantly reduce production and distribution center costs, and is expected to support the company's annual goal of expanding gross margin by approximately 100 basis points," said James R. Craigie, the company's chairman and chief executive officer.

According to a release from Church & Dwight, the five separate buildings at the North Brunswick complex created significant inefficiencies and do not allow for expansion to handle expected future growth.

However, the company plans to provide severance and transition benefits to approximately 300 affected employees at North Brunswick, as well as consideration for employment opportunities at other operations of the company.

"Church & Dwight has prospered since its arrival in North Brunswick in 2001 and has always been an exemplary corporate member of the North Brunswick community," Mayor Francis "Mac" Womack said. "They made significant investments to upgrade their facilities both in production capability and appearance, expanded their operations and employment, and have been socially responsive and cooperative, whether they were addressing noise complaints from nearby residents or by their donations to community events, like Care to Walk and high school fundraisers."

Womack said a spokesman from the personal care, household and specialty products company, mainly under the Arm & Hammer brand, said the company had a positive experience while in the township but need to relocate operations based on the company's strategic plan to remain competitive.

"However, Church & Dwight's announcement should serve as yet another reminder for every level of government in New Jersey that we must do more to keep job-producing businesses in New Jersey and to attract new businesses here."

Womack said he will reach try to aid the workers affected by the relocation. He also said that since Church & Dwight leases its site in North Brunswick and its lease term extends for several more years, there is no immediate tax implication anticipated.