RICHMOND, Va. — Smithfield Foods Inc. said Tuesday that it is laying off 120 more workers as part of its previously announced closure of a Virginia facility that makes hot dogs and deli meat.
The Smithfield, Va.-based pork producer plans to close the Portsmouth plant in the middle of August, said Jeff Gough, Smithfield's senior vice president for human resources.
Layoffs at the Smithfield Packing Co. facility began in January, with more than 400 workers to be affected by the time plant is closed.
The move comes amid the company's pending $4.72 billion takeover by China's largest meat producer under a deal struck last month with Shuanghui International Holdings Ltd. The deal, which is subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals, is expected to close in the second half of the year.
To read the rest of the story, please go to: Associated Press