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Kraft Heinz and Pepsi Closed Chinese Plants On Coronavirus

Companies say Chinese sales are a small part of total business
Disruptions seen in raw material supplies and distribution

Food Giants Kraft And Heinz To Merge — Photographer: Scott Olson/Getty Images

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February 13, 2020, 5:15 PM UTCUpdated onFebruary 13, 2020, 7:49 PM UTC

Kraft Heinz Co. Chief Executive Officer Miguel Patricio said the ketchup maker has closed some of its China plants following the outbreak of coronavirus. PepsiCo Inc. has done the same, closing one of its six manufacturing facilities recently.

The maker of Jell-O and Planters peanuts only gets 2% of its sales from China, but buys products from suppliers that import raw materials from the country, Patricio said in an interview. He recommended companies look for alternative supplies of raw materials due to disruptions there.