The War on Bacon

Smithfield to Shut Virginia Plant

Smithfield Foods Inc. said Wednesday that it will begin its previously announced shutdown of a Virginia facility that makes hot dogs and deli meat.

The Smithfield, Va.-based company said layoffs will start at the Portsmouth plant in January and it will close at the end of March. The first layoffs at the Smithfield Packing Co. facility will involve about 120 workers, with more than 400 workers affected by the time plant is closed, said Jeff Gough, Smithfield’s senior vice president for human resources. Employees have been offered transfer opportunities.