Dart Container lays off 160 from Mason headquarters

LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — Dart Container has eliminated around 250 corporate positions at their facilities around the world, including 160 jobs at their Mason, Mich. headquarters.

Dart, which makes food packaging products including paper and plastic cups, plates, lids, and cutlery including the red Solo cup, says the cuts represent about 2 percent of the company’s 13,000 employees.

The company says the move will help them “balance administrative costs with current sales volumes and remain price competitive.”

“Growth in the packaging industry has stagnated post-pandemic,” Dart CEO Keith Clark said in a statement. “Many of our customers have experienced the impacts of inflation to their business, which affected their demand for food and beverage packaging.”

Clark also blamed the competitors from other countries who he says are selling their products for less than American-made products.

“In response, we had to make the extremely difficult decision to adjust our corporate
workforce,” he said.

Many of the people who were let go were notified today.

The company says it is offering severance payments and helping people manage their health care plans.

“Companies in industries that undergo rapid change must adapt in order to thrive, and Dart is no different,” Clark said in the statement. “This decision was necessary for the long-term health of the company, but we know it’s a tough day for the people who are leaving, and their coworkers too.”

It’s not the first time the company has had to reduce its size. The company let some 6 percent of its workforce go back in February of 2020, including 65 people from its Mason headquarters.

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