Factory Demolition Begins in Kalisz After Ukrainian Owner Closure
Demolition is well underway at the former Calfrost factory in Kalisz, Poland, as a local entrepreneur prepares the site for a new logistics park. The dismantling of the decades-old frozen food production facility began earlier this month, signaling the end of an era for a once-prominent industrial landmark.
The factory, originally established in 1968 as part of the state-owned Nordis Chłodnie Polskie, underwent a series of ownership changes. In 2023, it was acquired by the Ukrainian firm Three Bears (Trzy Niedźwiedzie), a producer of ice cream and frozen foods. However, the new owners quickly deemed the operation unprofitable and announced the closure of the plant, resulting in the layoff of all 54 employees.
The property was subsequently purchased by Jan Podlasiński, a businessman from Konin, for approximately 5.8 million złoty (roughly $1.4 million USD), after an initial asking price of nearly 13 million złoty failed to attract buyers. Podlasiński, who also owns hotels and a transportation company, intends to construct warehouse space on the site, according to a supervisor at the demolition site who confirmed the plans are “wstępnie” – preliminary.
The speed of the demolition has surprised some local business owners, who are still grappling with outstanding debts owed by the previous owners. “People are devastated. We have clients who delivered goods [to Calfrost], goods of significant value. They haven’t been paid for those goods… they’re receiving 90 or 100 złoty per month in installments,” said one local entrepreneur, who wished to remain anonymous. He added that the scale of the dismantling makes any attempt to revive food production at the location unlikely, stating, “From what I hear from clients, the previous owners simply dismantled the equipment and took the machines away. It’s empty, there’s nothing left.”
The closure of Calfrost has created a mixed economic outlook for Kalisz. While the region faces a general shortage of labor, some sectors, particularly those serving the automotive industry, are experiencing a slowdown. “For those who seek to work, there’s always something available,” a local entrepreneur noted, “but some factories are barely operating.”
Local residents expressed regret over the loss of the factory. “In my opinion, What we have is a slow destruction of the Polish economy. Someone buys it, fires people, now someone is demolishing it. You just can’t restore this,” said an employee of a nearby firm. Another representative from a local company suggested the land itself was the primary driver of the sale, estimating its value at approximately three hectares in a prime location.
Prior to the sale, Kostiantyn Walczuk, the former president of Nordis, suggested the site could be suitable for residential development, citing its proximity to a shopping mall and transportation hubs. However, Podlasiński’s plans currently focus on industrial use. The demolition is proceeding rapidly, with heavy machinery already reducing sections of the factory to rubble.