78 Jobs Cut With Bimbo Bakery's Closing

This story was published August 12, and updated August 13 at 1:20 p.m.

America's biggest baker says it's shutting down its Easton area plant.

Bimbo Bakeries announced Monday it will close down the ovens at its bakery on the Wilson/Palmer Township line by the end of the year and cut approximately 78 jobs.

 “This was a difficult decision because of the committed team of associates at the Easton Bakery,”  Rod Cunha, Vice President, Manufacturing for Bimbo Bakeries USA said in a news release. “However, the age of this facility and its landlocked nature makes it incapable of competing effectively in the marketplace.”

 The company encouraged workers at the Northampton Street bakery to apply for one of the 150 open positions at a new, multi-million dollar Bimbo plant in Upper Macungie.

That 240,000 square foot, $75 million facility is expected to open early next year.

Bimbo spokesman Shane Sumrow said the company would not be issuing any further information Monday.

Bimbo Bakeries based in Horsham, became with largest baker in the country in 2002 and 2009 with the acquisition of the George Weston companies, which include brands such as Entenmann's, Thomas English Muffins and bagels, and Boboli pizza crusts.

Bimbo Bakeries is itself part of a larger company, the Mexico-based Groupo Bimbo, which began American operations in 1994.

This was the second manufacturing plant to close in Wilson in as many years. Cadmus, which made trade magazines and journals, shut down in 2012, taking 200 jobs with it.  

The Dixie Cup plant, arguably the borough's most visible landmark, has been vacant for 30 years. Last year, a developer proposed a $50-60 million plan to turn the building into a mixed-use commercial and residential property, with offices and one- and two-bedroom apartments.

But than plan appears to be on hold after the Wilson Area School Board declined to approve a tax break plan for the building.