Smithfield Packing, a subsidiary of Smithfield Foods, plans to shift bone-in ham production from its Maryland facility to its other plants in North Carolina and Kentucky, and then permanently shut down the Maryland plant in the mid of this year.
The plant closure will affect about 175 employees. While some of the employees will be moved to other Smithfield Packing facilities, the company plans to negotiate with United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) union officials regarding other opportunities related to this transition.
Smithfield Packing president Tim Schellpeper said the Landover plant no longer meets the company's ever-changing production needs and Smithfield will work diligently to transfer as many employees as possible to other operations.
Smithfield Packing stated that it will comply with federal regulations and provide employees with a 60 days notice of the plant closure.
Smithfield Packing, founded in 1936, is primarily involved in the production of pork, smoked meats, bacon, cooked hams and hot dogs for retail, foodservice and deli channels.
Smithfield Foods is a pork processor and hog producer. In the US, the company is a leader in packaged meats category with brands including Smithfield, Eckrich, Farmland, Armour, Cook's, Gwaltney, John Morrell, Kretschmar, Curly's, Carando, Margherita, and Healthy Ones.
