Sara Lee Corp. announced it will close its Chicago kosher hot dog and meat processing facility no later than Jan. 30, 2009, laying off about 185 employees.

The Downers Grove, Ill.-based company no longer will process and distribute Best's Kosher, Sinai Kosher, Shofar and Wilno brand products. The company also will close the Sinai Kosher outlet store located on the plant's premises.

"This decision was made after careful consideration of our strategic, long-term plan, which focuses on categories where we have a strategic competitive advantage," CJ Fraleigh, Sara Lee Corp.'s chief operating officer, North America, said in a news release.

The company will provide employees who will lose their jobs with severance and outplacement assistance.