Conagra plans to shut down a plant in northern Missouri in a move that will eliminate more than 400 jobs, according to local reports.
The Chicago-based owner of the Duncan Hines, Orville Redenbacher’s and Slim Jim brands plans to begin layoffs of its 442 workers in Macon, Missouri, in mid-January, KOMU-TV reports. Those will include positions in production as well as administration, maintenance and transportation.
Conagra officials told the network that the decision followed a review of its broader manufacturing network and was part of efforts to operate as efficiently as possible. A company statement said that the decision “was not made lightly.”
The announcement came 18 months after Conagra had signaled plans to invest over $29 million to expand the Macon plant. A release from Missouri economic development officials at that time called the facility the largest employer in the county.
