Months past its April deadline, the Kirksville bacon production line still is operational.
Last November, Kraft announced a consolidation of bacon production lines that originally was scheduled to cease bacon production at the Kirksville plant by April 2015.
Carolyn Chrisman, executive director of Kirksville Regional Economic Development Inc., says as far as her office knows, there is no single specific reason for the delay. Chrisman says Kraft’s timeline shifted and the production line likely will remain in Kirksville until the first quarter next year.
Chrisman says when the consolidation occurs, it will affect about 270 full-time employees. She says Kraft assured the community the consolidation has nothing to do with the work ethic of the plant or the community surrounding it. Chrisman says K-REDI is hoping to bring new production lines to the plant to help replace some of the jobs that will be lost when the bacon line ceases production.
Chrisman says the company is optimistic about the attempts to bring in new production lines. She says the Kraft plant is a major part of Kirksville’s economy and also has a special tie to Kirksville tradition, such as the annual Bacon Fest event which took place at The Square last Saturday. Chrisman says with the bacon production line consolidating, Bacon Fest probably has made its final Kirksville appearance, but K-REDI is hoping to offer other festivals to benefit local food pantries where Kraft and other companies can partner with the community.
Read more regarding Kraft’s layoffs on Issuu.