Quad's TN Plant a Victim of Lost Insert Work

DICKSON, TN—The loss of Gannett's USA Weekend supplement and a reduction in the circulation of Parade magazine have prompted Quad/Graphics to announce the permanent closure of its retail insert printing plant here effective next March. The move will result in the loss of a total of 115 full- and part-time positions.

All production will wrap up on or before March 15, according to Claire Ho, director of corporate communications for Sussex, WI-based Quad/Graphics. Ho told The Tennessean that USA Weekend and Parade production represent about one-third of the facility's total volume.

The decision was announced in a letter to vendors from David Blais, executive vice president of global procurement and platform strategy for Quad/Graphics. Blais said that Gannett's decision to cease publication of USA Weekend effective with the Dec. 28 issue was unexpected.

"Sunday magazines represent a large percentage of the Dickson plant’s total volume and, after careful consideration, we have determined there is no way to replace this lost work," Blais wrote. "Therefore, it does not make sense to continue operating the Dickson plant."

The approximately 90 full-time and 25 part-time employees affected by the closure will have the opportunity to transfer to another Quad/Graphics facility, Ho told the newspaper.