Valassis to close Wichita facility

Valassis announced Friday that it will close its Wichita printing operation next year, a move that will put 114 people out of work.

Debbie Serot, a spokeswoman for Valassis parent company Harland Clarke Holdings, said the printing facility, at 3819 N. Toben St., will cease operations sometime during the first half of 2016.

“We’re going to make every attempt to find ways to keep our Wichita employees with the company,” Serot said. “This has nothing to do with our Wichita employees or the performance of our operation there.”

She said the move is being made to focus on other Valassis locations that are closer to the company’s network of clients.

Serot said that employees will have the opportunity to apply to remain with the company, but would need to relocate in such a scenario. Valassis is a Michigan-based media advertising company with 30 locations in 28 states and abroad.

Valassis, which entered the Wichita market in 1985, invested in a multimillion dollar printing press upgrade in 2012, according to a past story in The Eagle. The company prints coupons and advertising inserts for distribution, among other services.

Serot said the closure will have no affect on the circulation of Red Plum coupon inserts — a Valassis brand — and mailings in the Kansas market. Serot said there are no current plans to close any other Valassis locations.

This story was originally published December 11, 2015 at 1:46 PM with the headline "Valassis to close Wichita facility."