Heinz to shed 600 office jobs

The H.J. Heinz Co. announced it will eliminate 600 office positions as it transitions to a private company. These cuts have been initiated after an investment consortium comprised of Berkshire Hathaway and an investment fund affiliated with 3G Capital on June 7 cemented the acquisition of HJ Heinz in a transaction valued at $28 billion.

“After a comprehensive evaluation process, the company has developed a new streamlined structure for Heinz North America,” said Michael Mullen, senior vice-president of corporate and government affairs. 

“Unfortunately, this process resulted in a number of difficult but necessary organizational changes, including the elimination of 600 office positions across the US and Canada, including 350 in Pittsburgh,” Mullen noted in the release.

The company will remain headquartered in Pittsburgh, as it has been for 144 years. Heinz will continue to employ 800 people in the Pittsburgh region and 6,000 across North America, Mullen said.

“The difficult actions we are taking now will better position the company to support and fund our next chapter of growth while further strengthening our world-leading brands,” Mullen added.

He said the new organizational structure will simplify, strengthen and leverage the company’s global scale while enabling faster decision-making, increased accountability and accelerated growth.

Heinz operates a sales office in Rogers as a supplier to Wal-Mart Stores Inc.