CNIB to Wind Down its Catering Business in Atlantic Canada

Desire to focus on core business drives necessary closures

St. John's - After meeting with employees and notifying partners earlier today, CNIB today announced its intention to wind down Caterplan, its food service division that operates cafeterias and catering facilities in all four Atlantic Provinces.

The company was created in 1928 to generate revenue for CNIB programs and as a means of employment for people living with vision loss. The business is not generating sufficient revenue to support CNIB services and programs, and the Atlantic cafeterias are the last in Canada to close.

Currently Caterplan operates 34 units employing 104 people in Atlantic Canada including 14 employees who are living with vision loss.

“It is our renewed focus on our core business of providing services, support and advocacy for Canadians living with vision loss that has made this closure necessary for CNIB – and the people we serve – moving forward,” said Len Baker, CNIB’s Managing Director, Services and Operations for Eastern Canada.

Baker cited the following factors as driving the need for CNIB to leave the catering business and re-focus on providing vision rehabilitation services, public education, research and advocacy:

1. While created to provide employment opportunities for people living with vision loss, Caterplan is no longer a significant means of employment for them
2. Catering is not relevant to CNIB’s core business and is consuming much time and effort that will now be directed to meeting the growing needs of people living with vision loss
3. The company is not producing sustainable or consistent revenues to ensure the stability of CNIB’s support service and other core programs. Less than 10 per cent of CNIB’s revenue in Atlantic Canada comes from Caterplan
4. It is also increasingly difficult to hire and retain adequately skilled and qualified employees, and when employees do leave it can become exceedingly difficult to meet our contractual obligations to our customers

“CNIB has assessed this situation from a variety of perspectives and has decided to leave the catering industry in a manner that is responsible, disciplined and respectful of our obligations to our Caterplan employees, partners and suppliers, and our ongoing obligations to our primary focus – Canadians living with vision loss,” said Baker.

Baker outlined a business wind-down plan designed to minimize disruption for Caterplan employees, partners and suppliers.

“Our plan aims to keep staff employed as long as possible to support their transition from Caterplan’s employ, to support customer transitions from Caterplan’s service, and to recover costs from Caterplan inventories before facility closures,” he added.

“At this time I acknowledge and thank our Caterplan employees for their dedication, commitment and professionalism, and I thank our Caterplan customers and suppliers for their partnership and loyalty over the years,” said Baker.