TIFTON — COI Foodservice Distribution and Manufacturing announced in January that 35 more people would be hired. Instead, approximately 200 employees were told Friday that the Tifton plant would be closed by mid-October.
COI filed for Chapter 11 status earlier this month to reorganize debt and, according to Randolph Wilkerson, the company’s vice president of human resources, one of the company’s customers, Road House Bar and Grill, filed bankruptcy leaving COI with $4 million in unpaid bills.
“Going into Chapter 11, we thought we would have enough money to support the company long-term and continue operations,” Wilkerson said. “The availability of funds decreased and had a direct affect on our cash flow. We had to start looking at areas to cut expenses.”
Wilkerson said Shoney’s Restaurants, Ryan’s Steakhouse and Applebee’s were the Tifton center’s largest customers. COI has the distribution center here, one in Ripley, W .Va., and another in Nashville, Tenn., where the company’s headquarters is located.
Brady Day, president and CEO of the Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce, said Monday that the Chamber has a four-prong plan to deal with the crisis.
“This is a very sad announcement,” Day said. “All of our members of the Chamber send sympathy to the employees of COI and our thoughts, prayers and First Focus on Local Business team are with them.”
The Chamber plans to help displaced workers find jobs; will coordinate with non-profit social services agencies to help them; will work to find a new tenant for the COI building and deal with issues arising from the Tift County Development Authority’s financial involvement with COI, Day said.
The First Focus on Local Business team will help those displaced workers. Those team members include the Georgia Department of Labor; the Georgia Department of Economic Development; Abraham Baldwin College; Moultrie Technical College; the University of Georgia; Troy State University; community temporary labor agencies; members of the occupational health industry; and Chamber member businesses that work with large industry.
Day said he has already spoken with a senior member of the COI corporation in Nashville, Tenn.
“We can see the influence of national and international companies, because if something goes wrong at headquarters, it can affect Tifton,” Day said.
Wilkerson said that “skyrocketing” diesel fuel prices have had a direct impact on the company’s ability to make a profit.
“That’s how we move our food products,” Wilkerson said. “Credit terms for vendors were tightened and that prevented us from buying products as easily as before.”
Wilkerson said that he has also been in contact with the Georgia Department of Labor here and that representatives from that agency would talk with local COI employees about their unemployment benefits.
The COI distribution center on Magnolia Boulevard in the Industrial Park has been operating in Tifton for more than seven years.
Local News
Related Photos
COI to close
- Local News
-
-
Chet Powell starts new wildlife group
Many South Georgians enjoy the beauty of bountiful wildlife. But chances are, few realize that there are those special people out there who work diligently and spend their own money rescuing and rehabbing injured and orphaned animals.
And perhaps not many know about the Georgia Wildlife Rescue Association that is newly formed with Colquitt Countian Chet Powell at its helm. -
BOE introduces behavioral specialists
Programs addressing student behavioral issues were among items discussed at a recent Tift County Board of Education work session.
At Tuesday’s night meeting, Joy West, special education director, introduced three behavioral specialists who have been placed in four local schools to address behavior: Debra Woods at Charles Spencer Elementary, Leigh Ann Haworth at G.O. Bailey Primary and at Len Lastinger Primary, and Jennifer Glenn at Matt Wilson Elementary School.
West said that grades kindergarten through fifth were looked at because a panel saw a great need to address discipline at an early age. -
Community helps with ‘Operation Valentine’
As Valentine’s Day approaches, Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals, with the help of some local churches, recently worked on a project, “Operation Valentine,” sending more than 100 personal valentines to military personnel. Local young students created the valentines, which were sent along with some goodies.
Suzanne Myers with Bowen-Donaldson said the funeral home is the Tift County Veterans and Family Memorial Care Provider. - Lee Grace Dougherty to appear in court today
-
Wood turning event Saturday at museum
-
Ga. House rejects charter schools amendment
House lawmakers rejected Wednesday a proposed amendment to the state constitution giving the General Assembly the power to create new charter schools.
- I-75 traffic grinds to halt due to deadly wreck in N. Ga.
-
Statewide tornado drill today
According to the National Weather Service, tornadoes are the No. 1 severe weather-related killer in Georgia. With tornado season fast approaching, Gov. Nathan Deal, the Georgia Emergency Management Agency/Homeland Security and NWS are urging all residents to prepare now for these violent storms. To help Georgians prepare for these dangerous storms, NWS will issue a statewide tornado drill today, and GEMA asks that all schools, households and businesses participate in the drill. GEMA also encourages residents to get ready for tornadoes by purchasing and programming a NOAA Weather Radio.
-
Truck drives off I-75
- City names new attorney
- More Local News Headlines
-
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Expert: Removing LA School's Staff 'Appropriate'
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
