NEW YORK - Ketchup maker H.J. Heinz Co. (IW500/101) plans to close three North American plants employing 1,350 workers as it consolidates manufacturing in a cost-cutting effort.
Heinz will shutter facilities in Florence, S.C.; Pocatello, Idaho; and Leamington, Ontario, in Canada over the next six to eight months, transferring the functions to other manufacturing sites in the U.S. and Canada, a Heinz spokesman said in a statement.
The company plans to add 470 employees across five existing facilities in Ohio, Iowa, California and Canada.
"Our decision to consolidate manufacturing across North America is a critical step in our plan to ensure we are operating as efficiently and effectively as possible to become more competitive in a challenging environment, and to accelerate the company's future growth," a Heinz spokesman said.
In February Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway and Brazil's 3G Capital took over Heinz in a $28 billion deal.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2013
