LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — A Smithfield Foods subsidiary plans to close its Landover, Md., plant by early fall as it consolidates operations.
The company said Friday that some of the plant's 175 workers will be offered transfers to other Smithfield Packing Co. plants. Smithfield also said that it will negotiate with United Food and Commercial Workers union officials about other possible opportunities for employees.
Smithfield Packing plans to move bone-in ham production from the Landover plant to plants in North Carolina and Kentucky.
"The Landover plant is a facility that no longer meets our ever-changing production needs. We will work diligently to transfer as many employees as possible to our other operations," Tim Schellpeper, president of Smithfield Packing, said in a statement.
The company said that it will comply with federal regulations and give employees 60 days notice of the plant closure.
Smithfield Foods is the world's biggest pork producer. Last week the Smithfield, Va., company, whose brands include Armour, Farmland and its namesake, reported that its third-quarter net income climbed as it saw gains in its packaged meats, hog production and international business. The results topped Wall Street's expectations.
Smithfield shares finished at $26.23 on Thursday.
They have traded in a 52-week range of $17.55 to $26.73.