Champaign Urbana will take an employment hit over the next two years with the departure of the Kraft Food cheese making operation. Kraft Heinz announced a transition to dry and sauce production in Champaign and said there would be job losses, but declined to say how many. Kraft is currently the largest industrial employer in Champaign with 1,800 jobs.
Economic Development officials in the Champaign Urbana area say they were not notified in advance of the change and will be contacting Kraft Heinz.
The move is one of several announced by Kraft-Heinz including the move of Oscar Meyer corporate headquarters from Wisconsin to Chicago. Kraft and Heinz merged earlier this year.