CHICAGO _ Kraft Heinz announced Thursday afternoon that it's laying off about 200 employees in the U.S. and Canada as part of ongoing efforts to reduce costs.
In a statement, Kraft Heinz spokesman Michael Mullen called the layoffs a "difficult but necessary decision." He declined to say if any of those jobs would be cut from the company's Chicago workforce, which totals more than 2,000 people.
"We regret the impact this decision has on employees and their families. We appreciate the many contributions our colleagues have made to our company, and, as always, we are committed to treating all employees with the utmost respect and dignity throughout this process," Mullen said in the statement.
The layoffs come on the heels of Kraft Heinz integrating the two IT systems of the legacy companies and consolidating the U.S. business unit, Mullen said. Those efforts, which have occurred over the past 14 months, have allowed the company to "reinvest in our brands and business," he said.
Kraft Heinz, which has 42,000 global employees and is co-headquartered in Chicago and Pittsburgh, has worked to reduce costs and expand profit margins since the two companies _ H.J. Heinz and Kraft Foods _ merged last summer.
All laid-off employees have been notified, Mullen said. Kraft Heinz is offering substantial severance packages, including a minimum of six months of salary and benefits, as well as outplacement services.
.png?w=600)
