THE WHAT?  St. Bernard Soap Co. has announced it will shut down operations by mid-March.

THE DETAILS The company, which produced bar soap brands like Ivory for P&G, disclosed plans to cut 127 workers, about half its workforce, three months ago. This move follows Procter & Gamble’s decision to consolidate contract manufacturing and shift production to its plant in Boston. St. Bernard Soap Co., established in 2003 after being spun off from P&G, produced soaps for P&G and other companies like Kao Brands, Colgate-Palmolive, and Unilever.

THE WHY? The shutdown is a result of Procter & Gamble’s strategy to improve efficiency by centralizing production. This decision aligns with P&G’s broader strategy since the early 2000s under then-CEO A.G. Lafley to divest from several manufacturing operations, including selling various brands and facilities.