UPDATE: August 28
Representatives with the West Virginia Development Office (WVDO)announced Wednesday that COI Foodservices will close its doors between October 6 and October 20.
The agency will provide information on re-employment and support services to all of the employees at the food distrubution center.
WVDO also hopes to find a new company to occupy the 42,000 square-foot warehouse and distribution center.
ORIGINAL STORY
RIPLEY, W.Va. (AP) - Several employees of a wholesale food distribution center in Jackson County say they have been told the facility is closing.
COI Foodservice Distribution declined comment Friday, but company President Daniel Staudt said a statement about the center in Ripley will be issued within a few days. About 100 people work at the center.
Employees were reluctant to discuss details of the closing but said they were being offered severance compensation. Gary Guibeaut, a 13-year employee from Point Pleasant, described the offer as fair.
COI serves businesses such as Applebee's, Shoney's and Ryan's restaurants. The Nashville-based company declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy in July to reorganize, citing rising fuel costs and the loss of several customers.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)