Montreal's Energizer moves to Dover

An Energizer Holdings Inc. factory in Canada is closing, and the operation will be consolidated with an existing facility in Delaware.

The company announced Tuesday it would move its Montreal operation to Dover. The move is part of a consolidation plan announced last year by the company that is meant to save money.

There are about 430 workers in the Montreal facility, which will close in 2017. It is not yet known how many of those jobs would come to Delaware. The restructuring will be accomplished in phases, with the first wave starting in 2015. Both facilities make feminine hygiene products.

A spokeswoman for Energizer said workers in Montreal would be given the option to move to Dover to the facility at 804 Walker Road. As jobs become available, they would be posted at energizer.jobs.

Gov. Jack Markell's staff said it expects there to be a "substantial increase" in the number of jobs available in Dover, but those conversations are still ongoing.

"Energizer is an outstanding company and upstanding corporate citizen, and we appreciate their contributions to Delaware," Markell said in a statement. "They have demonstrated that they value the talent we have in our state, and their presence here reminds us that investing in a skilled workforce is critical for Delaware to attract and retain great businesses."

Energizer Holdings, which is headquartered in St. Louis, makes a variety of personal care products, which include brand names such as Playtex, Schick, Banana Boat, Skintimate and Wet Ones.

Contact Nichole Dobo at (302) 324-2281 or ndobo@delawareonline.com. On Twitter @NicholeDobo.