Kraft Heinz to Build New Iowa Meat Plant, Close Old Facility

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Kraft Heinz plans to close its downtown Davenport lunch meat processing plant after building a new plant several miles away.

The company said Wednesday it expects the Oscar Mayer plant to close within the next two years. Its production will be moved to a planned $203 million manufacturing facility on the northwest side of Davenport.

A company spokesman says it's too early to know how many jobs will be eliminated by the move.

But city documents indicate it could be substantial.

A city memo outlining a proposed financial assistance package says the new plant would retain "at least 475 full-time positions." A union official says more than 1,200 workers are currently employed at the downtown plant, which dates back to 1946.