Meat & Poultry Briefs: In keeping with earlier announcements,Cargill Value Added Meats, Wichita, Kan., is scaling back at twoWillow Brook Foodsoperations in Springfield, Mo., that Cargill acquired in March. Cargill just announced plans to lay off as 175 production workers at one of Willow Brook's Springfield turkey operations. After purchasing the business this spring, Cargill said it would close both Springfield sites. To date -- including the recent lay-offs -- about 500 of the predicted 780 employee positions have been eliminated. . . Hot dog, deli meats and sausage processorKayem Foods Inc., Chelsea, Mass., said it appointedRalph Smithas president and CEO. He succeed Ray Monkiewicz, who was named chairman.
