EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) -- Berry Plastics Corp. plans to close five of its manufacturing plants next year in response to weak demand for the company's plastic containers and packaging.
The Evansville-based company announced the closures Friday during a quarterly earnings call with investors. The plants will close by Sept. 30, 2014, and cost about 200 workers their jobs.
The Evansville Courier & Press reports (https://bit.ly/1aOIWC2 ) Berry Plastics will close the company's plants in Alsip, Ill., Kent, Wash., and Houston, but has not disclosed the two other plants slated for closure.
Berry Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jon Rich blames the closures on weak demand for packaged goods due to the sluggish economy and high unemployment.
Berry Plastics operates about 80 plants with more than 15,000 employees, mostly in the U.S.