Consolidating U.S. Management Centers 

When the North American grocery company is spun off later this year, it will reduce its U.S. management center locations from four to two.

"Consolidating our management locations is a sound business move," said Tony Vernon, Executive Vice President and President, Kraft Foods North America and CEO of the future grocery company. "Having the majority of our business units together in one location will provide greater development opportunities for our people and will help us continue building our brands more efficiently and collaboratively."

The Beverages business unit in Tarrytown, N.Y., and the Planters brand in East Hanover, N.J., will relocate to the Chicagoland area by December 2012. Most of the employees affected by these moves will have the option to transfer with their businesses to the future grocery company headquarters in Chicagoland. Kraft also will close its Glenview, Ill., management center by the end of 2013.

The future global snacks company will also have its headquarters in the Chicagoland area, with the choice of site currently under consideration. The North American region for the global snacks company will be based at the East Hanover campus.

In Canada, both companies will retain sites in the Greater Toronto area. The Kraft grocery business will stay in the current Don Mills offices, while the snacks business moves to recently opened offices in Mississauga. The Madison, Wis., management center will remain the site for the Oscar Mayer business unit.

Workforce Reductions

Throughout 2011, the North American business has been lowering costs to provide funds to invest in its brands. With leaner structures planned across both the future grocery company and the North America Snacks region, Kraft plans to eliminate approximately 1,600 positions throughout the United States and Canada over the next 12 months, primarily from sales, corporate and business unit areas. About 20% of these job eliminations are currently open positions.

These planned workforce reductions do not include manufacturing facilities. With the impending separation into two independent companies, Kraft is continuing its review of manufacturing facilities to consider what's best for both new companies.

"Making these tough choices is never easy, and we recognize the impact these changes will have on many of our people and their families," said Vernon. "But our plan for a more nimble company, combined with the current economic and competitive pressures, led us to this point. Taking the necessary steps now will enable us to continue investing in our beloved brands to drive growth."

Source: Kraft Foods