Mason Companies, Inc, owner of Figi’s, announced that the company would be undergoing closing procedures as of 12:30pm today. Areas of the business affected included Gifts in Good Taste and Birchland Market.
Founded in 1944, Figi’s is a direct-to-consumer company that specializes in cheese and meats gifts, candies, holiday gift baskets and more. Their ventures include the holiday food and gifts catalog, Figi’s Gifts in Good Taste®, and the home and gifts catalog, Figi’s® Gallery. Figi’s currently has distribution centers in Marshfield, Neillsville and Stevens Point.
In October 2013, Mason Companies, Inc. purchased Figi’s. Despite a considerable financial investment, the company has not been able to overcome financial hardships. Through this week, Mason was actively in discussions in an attempt to find a buyer, but was unsuccessful.
Closure proceedings will take over two phases, affecting a total of 276 employees.
As of January 4, workforce was reduced by 129 employees. The remaining 147 employees will be reduced by March. All of these employees were given 60 days of wages as well as full employee support benefits for 60 days. Mason is working with an outside HR firm to assist these individuals with new employment. 125 employees that work in the call center and the gallery will retain employment.
