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Kellogg to lay off 161 at Charlotte bakery

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Kellogg Co. says it will begin layoffs at its Charlotte bakery in November as it edges closer to shutting down the operation.

A Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification filed with the N.C. Department of Commerce said 161 employees will be laid off in four phases ending in January. Companies are required to file the notices when they close plants or make mass layoffs.

Michigan-based Kellogg first announced the layoffs in February. At that time, the company didn't say when layoffs would begin. The closure comes as Kellogg seeks to generate up to $475 million in annual savings by 2018 through an initiative in which it's looking to consolidate facilities and eliminate excess capacity.

The plant produces cookies, including Famous Amos and Austin Sandwich Cremes.