Kraft Heinz cuts 200 workers
Kraft Heinz, makers of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese and Heinz Ketchup and other foods, said it will lay off about 200 workers in the United States and Canada.
While the company left its offices in Northfield for new offices in Chicago last January, it still has a research-and-development campus in Glenview. But a company spokesman declined to specify where the cuts were among the workforce of about 42,000 worldwide.
"Over the past 14 months, Kraft Heinz has completed two key integration projects: the complex merging of two legacy IT systems and the consolidation of our U.S. business unit structure," spokesman Michael Mullen said. "As a result, we are now operating more efficiently and effectively, which allows us to reinvest in our brands and business. Following a careful and thorough review of our business needs, both now and in the future, the company made the very difficult but necessary decision to eliminate approximately 200 positions across the U.S. and Canada."
Affected employees have been notified and are being offered "substantial severance packages, including a minimum of six months of salary and benefits along with outplacement services to help impacted employees pursue new career opportunities," Mullen said.
In March 2015, H.J. Heinz Co. said it would acquire Kraft Foods.