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New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. today urged Lance, Inc., the new owner of Stella D’oro, to reconsider its plan to relocate its operations from the Bronx to Ohio.

In a letter to David Singer, President and CEO of Lance, Inc., which recently bought Stella D’oro from Brynwood Partners, Thompson wrote: “As you may also know, prior to Lance’s purchase of Stella D’oro, both Stella D’oro management and Brynwood engaged in some deeply troubling labor practices. These practices and related findings by the NLRB likely contributed to Brynwood’s decision to sell Stella D’oro under terms that severely compromised local community and business interests.”

As the Chief Investment Advisor to New York City’s Pension Funds, Thompson insisted that companies have a duty to treat their employees fairly and to bargain in good faith.  “The failure to do so negatively affects the company, its employees and long term investors alike,” he wrote. 

“Maintaining a local presence would serve both to strengthen your company’s foothold in the northeast and preserve the strong loyalty associated with a local brand,” Thompson wrote. “It would additionally dispel the notion that Lance, Inc. was tacitly supportive of Brynwood’s inappropriate actions. Most importantly, however, keeping the Stella D’oro factory in the Bronx would help preserve the livelihood of many individuals and families that have come to depend on the success of this brand.”

In July, Comptroller Thompson wrote to the Pennsylvania State Employees’ Retirement System urging that it consider his concerns regarding its investment in Brynwood Partners.

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