Heinz factory closures to hit 1,350 jobs

NEW YORK CITY: Ketchup maker Heinz 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, South Carolina; Pocatello, Idaho; and Leamington, Ontario in Canada over the next six to eight months, transferring the functions to other manufacturing sites in the US 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.