Energizer Holdings on Thursday announced an enterprise-wide restructuring plan that includes the closure of the Energizer plant in Maryville.

Energizer plans to reduce payroll by ten percent, or 1,500 employees.

In a news release, the company said it is also closing facilities in Vermont and in Malaysia.

 

Operations will be “streamlined” at plants in North Carolina, Canada, and China.

They’re hoping to save about $200 million.

Maryville Plant Manager Hugh Belgarde issued a statement Thursday:

“Energizer’s Maryville plant, which manufactures C, AA, 4A and 9 Volt size alkaline batteries, will cease operations by December 2013.  The timing of the production phase-out and layoffs has not yet been determined. The approximately 310 hourly and salaried people employed at the facility will receive severance packages upon separation.

“The closing of the Maryville facility was an extremely difficult decision but necessary because of dramatic changes in the overall battery market over the past three to four years. With the increased use of rechargeable electronic devices with multiple features, primary battery sales continue to decline in developed markets worldwide.”