Kraft Heinz to move Oscar Mayer HQ to Chicago (out of Madistan)

Chicago Tribune ^ | 11-4-15 | Greg Trotter, Samantha Bomkamp and Corilyn Shropshir

[bigbob]

Kraft Heinz announced Wednesday that it will move Oscar Mayer and the company's U.S. meats business from Madison, Wis., to Chicago — a move that will add 250 jobs to Chicago's Aon Center.

The company also announced plans to consolidate its production facilities during the next two years, which will result in the shutdown of seven North American manufacturing facilities: Fullerton, Calif.; San Leandro, Calif.; Federalsburg, Md.; St. Mary's, Canada; Campbell, N.Y.; Lehigh Valley, Pa., and the one in Madison.

The closings will result in the loss of about 2,600 manufacturing jobs at the company, including 700 in Madison. About 50 non-manufacturing positions in Madison also will be cut and not moved to Chicago.

[bigbob]

Gov. Walker says this was a corporate decision that has nothing to do with Wisconsin.

[RJS1950]

That’s interesting since Conagra just started to move its corporate headquarters out of Omaha where it has been for many years. Lots of moves to Chicago, makes you wonder where the payoffs are hiding.

[drbuzzard]

I never understand why any company would subject themselves to the liability nightmare which comes from having their HQ in Chicago. The courtrooms in that area simply have it out for corporations.

[Vendome]

Chicago is going to the dogs....

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Somebody’s palms got greased. This is nothing more than crony enterprise on steroids. I wish governments at all levels would stay the F out of the economy. Just set a tax rate, let the market police the businesses, and let the best state win. I guarantee you, states like CA, IL, and NY would be vast wastelands since there wouldn’t be any of this phony “enterprise grants” or tax privileges involved.

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

Wonder what John Kerry is running for in Chicago/Illinois? Asshole of the year?

[stocksthatgoup]

The Madison, Wisconsin liberals will cheer, “Another capitalist company has been kicked out! No longer will hot dogs, bologna and bacon be slaughtered!” lol

[gorush]

"Gov. Walker says this was a corporate decision that has nothing to do with Wisconsin."

I doubt any of the libs will believe him.

[Stosh]

“Nice little food business you got going there - it’d be a real shame if your Chicago operations started having zoning problems, flash inspections, environmental reviews, OSHA oversight visits, and a whole lot else you might find annoying. Now of course if your headquarters were right here in the Loop, I’m sure the Rahmfather would be really pleased - anytime you had a problem, well, you just let him know, and I’m sure all could be smoothed over. And you’ll hardly notice the increase in your tax burden, which we’d really appreciate as we try to dig our way out of financial insolvency.

“You just think it over a bit while me and Rico and Guido look over your books and such . . .”

[afraidfortherepublic]

Why in the world would any corporation want to move to Chicago?

FReep Mail me if you want on, or off, this Wisconsin interest ping list.

[PfromHoGro]

Yeah, the State Street hipster duffusses who wear “Krap” logoed tee-shirts will be thrilled. Now if OM cuts their donations to UW I’ll be thrilled.

[vette6387]

“Why in the world would any corporation want to move to Chicago?”

Birds of a feather stick together?

[GOPJ]

...Conagra just started to move its corporate headquarters out of Omaha where it has been for many years. Lots of moves to Chicago, makes you wonder where the payoffs are hiding.

Chicago's a corrupt city run by democrats...

[RJS1950]

Oh yeah, there are connections, bribes, etc. We’ll see how all of those promises made to Conagra play out for them.

[Wally_Kalbacken]

I have been watching the usual reaction to this in the Madison newspapers - very hilarious attempts by the locals, including Madison Mayor Soglin, to blame this on Walker.

Walker has been getting abuse for perceived (imagined?) irregularities in the economic development agency. Can’t say for sure, but it looks to me like the usual portfolio of some loans that work and some that don’t. His critics expect, unrealistically, that the agency would only back winners and get paid back every time. By definition, that never happens. Local journalists cannot be bothered to examine the economic development loan performance of the agency under the previous governor to see if it was better, worse or about the same.

So, the folks that claim Walker was in the back pocket of business now find he is not close enough for their tastes regarding Oscar Meyer. Ha!