Hormel Foods Cutting 163 Jobs with Plant Closure

Hormel Foods Corp. is closing its plant in Turlock, Calif. and eliminating 163 jobs.

The company said Tuesday the plant, which produces its Valley Fresh canned meats, will close Oct. 29. Hormel will relocate its production to another facility, which the company said would improve purchasing and distribution.

According to a statement, affected employees will receive severance pay and its possible they could latch on with one of Hormel’s four other facilities in California.

“This decision was a difficult one to make because of its impact on our valued employees at this location,” said Mike Devine,  vice president of grocery products operations for Hormel. “The manufacture of our Valley Fresh canned products will be moved to another facility which will provide greater purchasing and distribution efficiencies.”

Hormel Foods is based in Austin, Minn. and has 19,000 employees.