EYE ON OPERATIONS

InsideToronto.com said Cargill Limited plans next spring to close its Etobicoke, Ont., case-ready meat packing plant as part of "a strategic realignment that will see its Guelph facility expand and add 200 jobs."
Officials said the 167,000-sq.ft. Etobicoke plant employs about 600 workers and 90 managers. It processes case-ready, retail-ready beef, pork, ground beef, poultry and sausage. InsideToronto noted that the Guelph site has a Dunlop Drive plant across the road where beef processing, animal harvesting and packing occurs.


Butterball, LLC, Garner, N.C., said its no employees were injured by a severe fire on Aug. 30 at the company's Kinston, N.C., slicing facility.

“The Kinston facility employees reacted in a professional and very prompt manner resulting in the safe evacuation of all employees, said Brian Rodgers, Butterball director of safety and risk management. "Butterball conducts numerous drills throughout the year to prepare in case of such incidents. We are happy to report that there are no injuries resulting from the incident.”

Despite the quick action on part of the local emergency response teams, it is believed that the fire damaged the entire facility. Butterball will work with authorities to investigate the cause of the fire.

Butterball Kinston associates were given assurances during a meeting held on August 31, that they will have employment opportunities at Butterball’s Mt. Olive, N.C., facility for the short term and that transportation and other issues will be worked out for the mutual benefit of the company and our associates. The Mt. Olive plant is within 30 miles of the Kinston facility.