IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP/WBOC)- Kraft Heinz says it will close seven factories in North America over the next two years as part of a downsizing that will shed 2,600 jobs.



The company said Wednesday it will close U.S. manufacturing facilities in Fullerton and San Leandro, California; Federalsburg, Maryland; Campbell, New York; Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania; and Madison, Wisconsin. A plant also will close in St. Marys, Ontario.

According to the company's website, the Federalsburg facility employs 90 people.



The closures will occur in the next 12 to 24 months.

"I'm actually shocked because they make a lot of stuff," said Terrence Harrison, who lives in Federalsburg and works at a Allen Harim plant in Dover. "Those people who are losing their jobs, if they can't transfer to Dover, I guess they're just [out of luck]."

"It's going to put a lot of people out of jobs," said Frances Tilghman of Federalsburg. "Businesses come but businesses don't stay, and that really makes it hard on people because it makes them have to travel. Those that don't have transportation it just puts them out altogether."

Federalsburg Mayor Chuck Planner said it is a blow to the community's local workforce, but added the town will do everything to help make the transition run as smooth as possible.

"This surprised us as well as everybody," said Planner. "It's going to put the pressure on them to find placement here in town. Hopefully they'll be able to find it locally at other industries."

Some in Federalsburg said that finding a job in town is slim pickings.

"It's easier to get jobs out of town than there are in town because they have buses that you can catch that'll take you to different drop-off points," said Tilghman.

"Nothing's here but Kraft, Solo Cup, you have Food Lion," said Harrison. "But most of the gas stations and restaurants are privately-owned. Everybody does background checks. Some felonies won't get you a job. Some misdemeanors won't get you a job, so you'll have to travel elsewhere."



The company said it also will close its meat processing plant in Davenport, Iowa, and move production to a new facility that will be built nearby.



Kraft Heinz formed from the merger of Kraft and Heinz this year. The new company, co-headquartered in Chicago and Pittsburgh, announced in August that 2,500 non-factory jobs would be cut following the merger. Together they form the fifth largest food and beverage company in the world.