Feb 5, 2007 10:09 AM, from staff and wire reports

Armour Eckrich Branded Meats plans to shift its processed meats production to other facilities and close its Kansas City KS plant, effective August 31.

The production shift affects approximately 280 employees. Transfers to other company locations will be offered to some salaried employees.

The company will follow all required procedures as outlined in the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification ACT (WARN), including providing a 60-day notification of the plant closure to employees or their bargaining representative. Under terms of the WARN Act, Armour Eckrich also will notify state dislocated worker units so that they can promptly offer dislocated worker assistance.

Armour Eckrich is a unit of John Morrell & Co, a subsidiary of Smithfield Foods Inc. Smithfield acquired the assets of the branded meats business (now known as Armour Eckrich) of ConAgra Foods Inc in October.