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ConAgra to close a portion of its Hamburg facility

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August 11th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

An official with a major employer in Hamburg has confirmed rumors a portion of its factory will close this fall. Teresa Paulsen, with ConAgra Foods said in an e-mail to the media Wednesday evening, the company will close its microwave popcorn facility in Hamburg, this October, and transfer that portion of the operation to the company’s other popcorn facilities. The Hamburg plant produces Orville Redenbacher’s and ACT II microwave popcorn. The move will result in the loss of 95 jobs at the Hamburg plant.

In her e-mail, Paulsen said those employees were notified of the company’s plans in meetings held Wednesday. She said also ConAgra Foods is committed to providing benefits and services that will help employees transition from the company. In the meantime, Paulsen says the bulk popcorn processing and packaging plant will remain open in Hamburg where 45 employees will continue to work.

Chris Whitehair, ConAgra’s vice president of Operations for the Snacks division, said in a written statement they wish the decision was not necessary, “Especially given the challenges the Hamburg community has faced this summer.” He said also that while the people in Hamburg “Have worked hard to maintain normal operations in the midst of historic flooding…” the company needed to find a more efficient and economically viable option to producing its product.