Hunt Wesson Foods Company

Hunt-Wesson Inc. said Friday that it will close its historic Hunt Foods tomato processing plant in Fullerton, one of Southern California's largest remaining food canneries, laying off 325 full-time workers and eliminating 450 seasonal canning jobs. The 62-year-old Fullerton plant was the late billionaire Norton Simon's first food-processing business, which he grew into the multibillion-dollar Hunt-Wesson powerhouse.

The Hunt-Wesson tomato processing plant in Davis has closed a year earlier than expected, leaving about 450 employees jobless. The plant closed Tuesday. The company initially planned to shut it down at the end of the 2000 season. About 60 employees will stay on through the end of the year to handle distribution. Workers will have individual termination dates depending on Hunt-Wesson's needs and the logistics of the closing, company spokeswoman Kay Carpenter said in a written statement.

Hunt-Wesson Inc. said Friday it will close its historic Hunt Foods tomato processing plant, one of Southern California's largest remaining food canning facilities, laying off 325 full-time workers and eliminating 450 seasonal canning jobs. The Fullerton plant was the late billionaire Norton Simon's first food-processing business, which he grew into the multibillion-dollar Hunt-Wesson powerhouse.

In an effort to trim costs and remain competitive, Fullerton-based food processor Hunt-Wesson Inc. said Thursday that it has eliminated 150 of the 1,000 jobs at its headquarters. The employees, who work in many of the company's administrative departments, were notified Wednesday, according to Hunt-Wesson spokeswoman Kay Carpenter. They will receive a severance package and outplacement services.

A locally based company has adopted more than two days of disaster relief from the Red Cross. Food processor Hunt-Wesson Inc. has donated more than $6,000 to the Red Cross as part of the agency's "Adopt-a-Day of Disaster Relief Program." "We can all feel more secure knowing the Red Cross is ready and able to respond in times of urgent need," Kay Carpenter, a spokeswoman for Hunt-Wesson, said in a news release.

Cal-Corn Inc., the Irvine-based operator of eight Popcorn Palace stores in Southern California, is teaming up with America's popcorn ambassador, Orville Redenbacher. In a strategic alliance to be announced next week, Cal-Corn and Hunt-Wesson Foods--maker of Orville Redenbacher popcorn--will jointly develop Orville Redenbacher Popcorn Palace stores. The first of these is expected to open by September.

Knott's Berry Farm is negotiating to sell its food unit, which includes its well-known line of jams and jellies, to Hunt-Wesson Foods in Fullerton, sources said Friday. Neither Knott's nor Hunt-Wesson would comment on the talks, however. As a family-owned enterprise, Knott's has never disclosed the value of its packaged food operation, but with 200 to 400 workers, varying for seasonal activity, the Placentia unit is the fastest-growing part of the company.

In an effort to trim costs and remain competitive, Fullerton-based food processor Hunt-Wesson Inc. said Thursday that it has eliminated 150 of the 1,000 jobs at its headquarters. The employees, who work in many of the company's administrative departments, were notified Wednesday, according to Hunt-Wesson spokeswoman Kay Carpenter. They will receive a severance package and outplacement services.

The Hunt-Wesson tomato processing plant in Davis has closed a year earlier than expected, leaving about 450 employees jobless. The plant closed Tuesday. The company initially planned to shut it down at the end of the 2000 season. About 60 employees will stay on through the end of the year to handle distribution. Workers will have individual termination dates depending on Hunt-Wesson's needs and the logistics of the closing, company spokeswoman Kay Carpenter said in a written statement.

A locally based company has adopted more than two days of disaster relief from the Red Cross. Food processor Hunt-Wesson Inc. has donated more than $6,000 to the Red Cross as part of the agency's "Adopt-a-Day of Disaster Relief Program." "We can all feel more secure knowing the Red Cross is ready and able to respond in times of urgent need," Kay Carpenter, a spokeswoman for Hunt-Wesson, said in a news release.

Hunt-Wesson Inc. said Friday that it will close its historic Hunt Foods tomato processing plant in Fullerton, one of Southern California's largest remaining food canneries, laying off 325 full-time workers and eliminating 450 seasonal canning jobs. The 62-year-old Fullerton plant was the late billionaire Norton Simon's first food-processing business, which he grew into the multibillion-dollar Hunt-Wesson powerhouse.

Hunt-Wesson Inc. said Friday it will close its historic Hunt Foods tomato processing plant, one of Southern California's largest remaining food canning facilities, laying off 325 full-time workers and eliminating 450 seasonal canning jobs. The Fullerton plant was the late billionaire Norton Simon's first food-processing business, which he grew into the multibillion-dollar Hunt-Wesson powerhouse.

Knott's Berry Farm is negotiating to sell its food unit, which includes its well-known line of jams and jellies, to Hunt-Wesson Foods in Fullerton, sources said Friday. Neither Knott's nor Hunt-Wesson would comment on the talks, however. As a family-owned enterprise, Knott's has never disclosed the value of its packaged food operation, but with 200 to 400 workers, varying for seasonal activity, the Placentia unit is the fastest-growing part of the company.

Cal-Corn Inc., the Irvine-based operator of eight Popcorn Palace stores in Southern California, is teaming up with America's popcorn ambassador, Orville Redenbacher. In a strategic alliance to be announced next week, Cal-Corn and Hunt-Wesson Foods--maker of Orville Redenbacher popcorn--will jointly develop Orville Redenbacher Popcorn Palace stores. The first of these is expected to open by September.