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April 3, 2020

COVID-19 fallout causes 87 layoffs at Enfield’s Martin-Brower

By Joe Cooper

Global food distributor The Martin-Brower Co. says “a sudden and unforeseeable” decrease in business due to the COVID-19 outbreak has forced it to layoff 87 employees in Enfield, according to a state labor filing.

Martin-Brower, one of the nation’s largest distributors to the fast food industry, informed state labor officials on Wednesday that it substantially reduced its operations at 101 Moody Road by temporarily laying off warehouse workers and other drivers and maintenance/supply specialists.

The affected employees are not represented by a union, the filing says.

"Martin Brower has made the difficult decision to temporarily reduce our workforce as result of the unforeseen impact of COVID-19 on our business, customers and the communities we serve," a company spokesperson said in a statement Friday afternoon. "We deeply value our team members and will be providing support by paying out all accrued vacation/PTO along with extended employee health insurance benefits."

Martin-Brower is owned by foodservice wholesaler and distributor Reyes Holdings LLC and is the largest worldwide distributor to the McDonald's restaurant system, according to its website.

The company is one of the latest in Connecticut to inform state labor officials of its plans to layoff workers during the global pandemic.

The Connecticut Department of Labor on Thursday said the state has received more than 200,000 claims in the last two weeks, which is more than one year’s worth of claims. Gov. Ned Lamont also on Thursday said that the number of claims has reached 220,000.

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