US-headquartered HJ Heinz plans to shut two of its manufacturing sites in Europe, a move which would lead to 350 job losses.
Plant closures in Belgium and Germany are part of the company's efforts to improve its overall efficiency.
The move comes on the heels of the company's three factory closures in North America that led to 1,350 lay-offs.
The Belgian plant produces a range of single portion and bulk sauces for foodservice, while the German site makes beans and pasta in fridge pack format and infant feeding tray meals.
Heinz plans to move production from the closure-affected plants to its 15 other factories in Europe.
The new owners of Heinz, Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway and 3G Capital, are continuing the overhaul of the company's global operations.
Heinz corporate and government affairs senior vice president Michael Mullen said, "Our proposal to consolidate manufacturing across Heinz Europe, if implemented, would be a critical step in our plan to ensure we are operating as efficiently and effectively as possible to become more competitive in a challenging environment, and to accelerate the company's future growth."
