Tahitian Noni axes 85 jobs in A.F., Provo

Daily Herald

Within three months of being appointed president of Tahitian Noni International, John Wadsworth, co-creator of the Provo company's signature Noni juice, began revamping its business model and cutting costs to shore up its profitability in the face of an increasingly uncertain economy.

The result: 85 jobs from all departments -- including training and support, call center, marketing, operations, bottling, warehousing and executive management -- were axed, company officials announced Wednesday.

The layoffs, which represent about 7 percent of the company's global work force of 1,200, primarily affected its 600-worker Provo headquarters as well as a 250-worker manufacturing, distribution, and research and development center in American Fork.

"In this time of economic uncertainty, this restructuring effort will strengthen the company," Wadsworth said in a statement Wednesday. The company last laid off 130 workers in Provo and American Fork in a cost-cutting move two years ago.