Another Wisconsin mill announces closing
Clearwater Paper's Neenah facility to shutter, affecting 290 employees
MADISON, Wis. -- The Wisconsin paper industry sustained another hit on June 2 as Clearwater Paper announced the closing of its 290-employee mill in Neenah, Wisconsin.
The Neenah mill manufactures “away from home” tissue and Clearwater announced that it will exit manufacturing the specific type of tissue by the end of July.
The mill has a total capacity of about 54,000 tons and employs approximately 290 people.
“We are committed to supporting our people through this challenging time,” said Arsen Kitch, Clearwater’s President and CEO. “Despite the best efforts of our dedicated employees, our Neenah location and assets cannot cost effectively compete in the markets that we serve.”
In 2020 as the pandemic hit demand for toilet paper shifted from an institutional variety to a somewhat higher quality made for home use. This caused a shortage of the in-home product and a short fall in demand for the institutional grade product.
Clearwater Paper is a publicly traded company that makes private label tissue paper sold by major retailers. It purchased the Neenah mill in 2010.
