ConAgra Foods Inc. is planning to close its ranch style beans plant in Fort Worth and build a new facility, as part of a plan to streamline its manufacturing operations.

The Fort Worth plant is among five plants that the Omaha, Neb.-based packaged food companies is planning to close.

The closures are expected to take place over the next 12 to 18 months and will reduce ConAgra's work force by about 400 people. ConAgra said the reductions and closures should reduce its costs by $100 million a year by fiscal 2009.

There are about 100 employees at ConAgra's existing Fort Worth plant. ConAgra spokeswoman Melissa Baron says its too early to tell if the employees will get jobs at the new facility, which will be much larger in size and scale and a more complex operation.

"We're in the process of reviewing what positions and skills will be required to run the operation," she said.

ConAgra (NYSE: CAG - News) brands include Chef Boyardee, Healthy Choice, Hebrew National, Orville Redenbacher's and others.

Web site: www.conagrafoods.com

Published September 15, 2006 by the Dallas Business Journal