SOUTH EDMESTON – While Chobani’s Chief Marketing and Brand Officer Peter McGuinness could not confirm numbers regarding local residents losing their jobs, he did state the yogurt manufacturing company is making changes in an effort to maximize the potential of the company's two factories.

“In 2014, we will be increasing production at our Idaho factory, given its size and capability, and we will normalize production at our South Edmeston facility,” said McGuinness.

The South Edmeston plant will shift from a production schedule of two, 12 hour shifts per day to three, 8 hour shifts – a schedule McGuinness said will be in line with normal industry-shift patterns. Production at the South Edmeston plant will take place Monday through Friday. The company’s previous production schedule was seven days per week.

“This brings production in line with the factories' operational design and capacity thresholds to ensure quality, safety, and balance,” McGuinness said.

This change results in the need for fewer individuals – placed through the local temporary employment agency Staffworks – to be working at the facility in South Edmeston.

McGuinness explained Chobani will continue to work with Staffworks, but in the near term, they will be using fewer employees.

“Staffworks is aware and actively working with those impacted to place them in other temporary jobs,” said McGuinness.