Editor’s Note: This article was originally posted on Nov. 16 and updated on Nov. 18 with responses from a MANN+HUMMEL representative. 

MANN+HUMMEL will be making changes to their Fayetteville operations. Following a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) report released by the NC Department of Commerce released on Nov. 14, MANN HUMMEL Purolator Filter LLC released a closure notice under the 3200 Natal Street address in Fayetteville to the state on Nov 8 which is set to go into effect on Jan 2, 2023.

President and CEO of Fayetteville Economic Development Corporation Robert Van Geons confirmed with the GFBJ that MANN+HUMMEL are closing their off-site, leased distribution facility on Corporation Drive. Though the closure notice was filed in early November, Van Geons shared that this has been planned for many months and they have been in contact with the property owner for some time about finding a new tenant for them once MANN+HUMMEL moves out.

It is suspected that MANN+HUMMEL is shifting how they do their logistics/distribution operations. The WARN report lists 114 employees will be affected by the change but according to Van Geons, this closure does not impact the 1,000+ employee manufacturing operations on Natal Road.

“We encourage anyone with questions to contact the company directly,” said Van Geons. “However, it is our understanding is that this WARN notice is in regards to a their Corporation Drive distribution center and not their much larger manufacturing facility on Natal road, which is actively recruiting for open positions. MANN+HUMMEL is one of our largest employers, and we are proud to have them here in Cumberland County.”

GFBJ reached out to MANN+HUMMEL for comment but they have yet to respond. 

Article Update: Nov. 18, 2022

It has been confirmed that two MANN+HUMMEL distribution centers in North Carolina will be closing in Fayetteville and Gastonia. 

According to MANN+HUMMEL spokesperson Andreas Wallbillich, in April of 2021, MANN+HUMMEL announced a new distribution expansion strategy for their North American Automotive Aftermarket brands. Under the new strategy, the company created two state-of-the-art distribution centers to serve customers through a West Coast and East Coast distribution model.

“As a result of the new structure, the company’s current distribution centers in Fayetteville and Gastonia will be transitioned in phases to the company’s new East Coast DC in Gaffney, SC,” said Wallbillich. “The Fayetteville Distribution Center is the first of the two sites to be moved into the East Coast Distribution Center. The site is a customized solution for MANN+HUMMEL, with 1.4 million square feet of space, 100 truck docks, and featuring state-of-the-art technologies.” 

Wallbillich said the company has been transparent about their new distribution strategy and provided over 18 months of notice of the closure to their current distribution centers.  

“To accomplish our new distribution strategy, the distribution centers in both Fayetteville and Gastonia, NC will be permanently closed. All distribution of MANN+HUMMEL’s Automotive Aftermarket products in the USA will be handled from the modern new sites in our East Coast Distribution Center (Gaffney, SC) and our West Coast Distribution Center (Las Vegas, NV),” said Wallbillich. “This only affects our distribution facilities in Fayetteville and Gastonia.  We will continue to focus intently on our manufacturing in both Fayetteville and Gastonia.  These production sites represent two of the largest production facilities within the global MANN+HUMMEL Group.  We will continue to invest heavily into these sites through new business and new capabilities.”

Wallbillich also provided clarity on the report released through the WARN report released in mid-November, confirming that only the distribution center on Corporation Drive will be closing, and the 114 employees affected have been offered a transfer to the Natal Street location. 

“…These individuals are being offered the opportunity to work in our manufacturing operations on Natal Street, only six miles away from the Distribution Center.  The manufacturing facility on Natal Street will see only renewed investment and focus on manufacturing. We are actively hiring at the Natal Street manufacturing site and will continue to do so.  The Natal Street operation is a vital component of MANN+HUMMEL’s manufacturing presence in the United States,” said Wallbillich.