Produce packaging manufacturer Garlock Flexibles has announced it will close two of its Gardner facilities as the firm is set to lay off 91 employees.
Produce packaging manufacturer Garlock Flexibles has announced it will close two of its Gardner facilities as the firm is set to lay off 91 employees.
Garlock expects to begin closure proceedings of its locations at 164 Fredette St. and 77 Industrial Way on April 30 and shutter them completely by Sept. 30, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification sent to the state on Feb. 9.
Employees will be laid off in three separate rounds beginning on April 30 and ending on Oct. 10, as some workers are expected to remain employed for a limited time after the facility’s closure to provide administrative assistance.
Garlock said in the letter a small number of administrative and leadership employees will keep their positions entirely.
Converting assistants will be the largest percentage of laid off employees, followed by press operators and material handlers.
Garlock has operated in Gardner for nearly 40 years, beginning production in 1987 under the name Garlock Printing and Converting. By 2001, the manufacturer had gained clients including JCPenney, Hallmark, and Victoria’s Secret, according to the company.
The firm rebranded as Garlock Flexibles in October 2023, announcing the change along with the $9.6 million sale of its 77 Industrial Way location.
Earlier that same year,
the manufacturer sold its 72,000-square-foot facility at164 Fredette St. for $5.4 million to New York-based Royal Oak Realty Trust.
Today, Garlock produces packaging lidding, pouches, and rolls of packing material including those made out of nylon and polyester. Garlock packaging is used in markets including frozen produce, dairy products, pet products, and condiments.
Garlock’s facilities closures follow a string of business operations closing in Central Massachusetts in 2026. In January, Thermo Fisher Scientific and Panera Bread announced they would close operations in Franklin. In February, American Eagle Outfitters announced it would close a distribution center in Devens.
UPDATE: This story has been updated to include the past sales of Garlock's Gardner facilities.
Mica Kanner-Mascolo is a staff writer at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the healthcare, manufacturing, and higher education industries.
