Meat processing giant Smithfield Foods Inc., Smithfield, Va., announced a reorganization and six plant closings to "improve operating efficiencies and increase utilization" within its pork group. Officials say (1) John Morrell and Farmland Foods will merge their pork sales groups, (2) Patrick Cudahy and Carando Foods will become part of the John Morrell Group, (3) North Side Foods Corp. will become part of Farmland Foods and (4) Cumberland Gap Provision Co. will become part of Smithfield Packing Company Inc.
Officials also announced (1) Smithfield Packing Co.'s south plant in Smithfield, Va., will close in December, (2) a Smithfield Packing plant in Plant City, Fla., will close in September, (3) a Smithfield Packing plant in Elon, N.C., will close later this summer, (4) a John Morrell plant in Great Bend, Kan., will close in July, (5) a Farmland Foods plant in New Riegel, Ohio, will close in April and (6) an Armour-Eckrich Meats LLC plant in Hastings, Neb., will close in July.