Idaho-based Lamb Weston lays off 660 workers as coronavirus cuts demand for french fries

Eagle-based Lamb Weston is closing two of its potato processing plants north of the Tri-Cities in Washington state for three months and temporarily laying off 660 workers.

It is furloughing 360 workers at its Connell plant and 300 workers at its Warden plant for about 90 days starting Monday, June 15, said Shelby Stoolman, a Lamb Weston spokesperson.

The plants make frozen french fries and other frozen potato products. The coronavirus has reduced market demand because of restaurant closures in the United States and abroad.

“Unfortunately, due to restaurant closures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve seen consistent decreases in demand over the last few months,” Stoolman said. “We do not need to operate all of our facilities to meet our current demand.”

Lamb Weston filed a layoff notice with the state this week.

Lamb Weston toiled quietly for decades in the Treasure Valley while building itself into a global frozen-potato-products powerhouse under the ownership of ConAgra, one of the largest food manufacturers in the nation. It spun off from ConAgra in 2017, becoming an independent, publicly traded company.

The company made its Eagle office, near the intersection of Eagle Road and State Street, its international headquarters. It later added a Boise office off Chinden Boulevard on Explorer Drive to house its growing staff.

Lamb Weston also has two potato plants in Idaho, in Twin Falls and American Falls. It buys from 150 to 200 potato growers each year to feed the plants.

The Idaho Statesman contributed.

This story was originally published June 13, 2020 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Idaho-based Lamb Weston lays off 660 workers as coronavirus cuts demand for french fries."