Source: Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE, 12/5/11

Minneapolis-based Cargill announced it will cut its workforce by up to 2,000 of its 138,000 employees globally, a reduction of about 1.5 percent. It was not clear how the company-wide layoffs would affect Cargill Meat Solutions.

“It impacts all Cargill business units, but the meat businesses in Wichita are still assessing what that means for them,” company spokesman Michael Martin told Meatingplace.

The majority of the reduction will take place over the next six months worldwide. The company said these actions are in response to the continued weak global economy and are part of an overall effort to reduce expenses and simplify work processes.

The reductions are based on recommendations from Cargill’s business units and functions as to how to best allocate resources, based on their specific situations. They are not the outcome of any companywide percentage mandate or uniform across-the-board cut. Rather, the goal is to ensure the company is focusing its resources on those activities that add the most value for its customers, according to a company news release.

“As economic conditions change, so must we,” said Mike Fernandez, corporate vice president of Cargill Corporate Affairs. “Regrettably, this impacts talented people who have made important contributions to our company. These are difficult decisions but are necessary to better position the company for continued growth.”

Cargill’s international businesses span 63 countries and include producing and marketing food, agricultural, financial and industrial products and services.

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