Frito-Lay consolidates manufacturing

PepsiCo will close four Frito-Lay factories by the end of the year in a move to consolidate production. The snacks unit will shutter plants in Allen Park, Mich.; Council Bluffs, Iowa; Beaverton, Ore.; and Visalia, Calif., the Chicago Sun-Times reported.PepsiCo, based in Purchase, N.Y., said 250 of the 780 lost jobs will be added to other Frito-Lay sites. The closings will leave Pepsi's Frito-Lay North America unit with 39 plants in the U.S. and Canada. Production will increase at 24 of the locations, Pepsi said. Frito-Lay's U.S staff level will remain at about 45,000.