Source:  John Murawski, THE NEWS &OBSERVER, 11/19/09

The nation's biggest manufacturing site for Kellogg's snacks began laying off employees in Cary this morning as part of a corporate reorganization.

The Battle Creek, Mich.-based company is moving ahead with plans to cut $1 billion in annual costs, but spokesman Kris Charles would not disclose the number of local jobs to be cut.

"As we simplify and standardize our processes at the Cary bakery, some jobs were impacted," Charles said. "Affected employees were notified today."

Two years ago Kellogg's, the nation's biggest cereal maker, announced an expansion of 180 jobs at the Cary plant that would bring staffing there to 800 people.

The facility manufactures Keebler crakers, Cheez-It crackers, Zoo animal crackers, Austin cookies, among other products. Earlier this year the plant suspended production of all peanut butter products during an outbreak of salmonella that sickened hundreds of people.