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Bimbo Bakeries USA (BBU) has announced its decision to discontinue operations at its bakery in Albuquerque, New Mexico, US, by mid-April. The closure of the facility, which manufactures a variety of bread and buns, will see 149 employees affected. Following a recent evaluation, BBU determined that "volume loss, as well as the ageing facility, made this bakery inconducive to our company growth plans". Consequently, Bimbo Bakeries USA will transfer production responsibilities to other bakeries within the company's manufacturing network. Jessica Santiago, BBU's regional director of operations, said: “This was a difficult decision because of the highly engaged team of associates at the Albuquerque Bakery”. In a statement, BBU told FoodBev that human resources representatives will meet with employees and union representatives to discuss severance and other benefits, as well as share resources available to help during this transition. Santiago added: “We value and respect our associates and will assist them as we can”.