Pocatello factory lays off 80 workers

Heinz will lay off 80 workers in Pocatello.

“Following the discontinuation of its T.G.I. Friday’s frozen meals, Heinz conducted a thorough evaluation of the production needs at its Pocatello, Idaho factory. To ensure the number of employees is in line with production needs, Heinz has made the difficult but necessary decision to lay off 80 full-time, hourly team members, effective March 4, 2013,” the food manufacturer said in a written statement to Local News 8 on Tuesday.

Heinz said the factory will adjust its production schedule “to maximize efficiency and effectively manage costs, and ensure the talents of the remaining hourly workforce are being properly leveraged.”

It also said it employs more than 400 full-time workers at its Pocatello facility, which produces frozen meals and snacks.