February 5, 2007

Smithfield subsidiary closes plant

Armour Eckrich Branded Meats said it would close its Kansas City plant on Aug 31 and shift its processed meat production to other plants.

The production shift would affect approximately 280 employees, according to a company release.

The decision was taken after a thorough analysis of the plant following reports that the plant had been running substantially below capacity and losing money for several years, said Michael Brown, company president.

Armour Eckrich is a unit of John Morrell & Co, a subsidiary of Smithfield Foods.