J.M. Smucker will acquire International Multifoods Corp., a transaction valued at $840 million, which includes the assumption of $340 million in debt. The acquisition is expected to be complete in June 2004.

Mike Manty accepted the newly created position of executive vice president and chief operating officer of U.S. Tsubaki, Inc. He joined the company in 1998 as vice president, human resources.

H.J. Heinz announced that Neil Harrison, executive vice president and president and CEO of Heinz North America, has decided to leave the company to pursue other interests. Harrison had been with Heinz since 1997.

Michael Montero joined Inn Foods as director of import and export operations. His experience includes work for Dole Fruit, TransyStems/ProducetNet and Superior Foods.

Located in Madison, WI, the Morningstar Foods plant will cease operations effective June 5, 2004. Production will be moved to affiliated operations in other areas. The closure will affect approximately 100 employees.

Campbell Soup named David White senior vice president-global supply chain. He joins the company after 26 years with Procter & Gamble, where he most recently served as vice president, product supply-global family care business.

SK Foods promoted Steve King to vice president of operations; Rick Washburn, vice president of administration; Richard Lawrence to managing director Cedenco Foods/vice president SK Foods International Operations; Alan Huey, vice president of strategic planning; Rick Emmett, vice president of agricultural operations; and Randy Yingling, foodservice manager.

John R. Parker Jr. serves as vice president and general manager, West Central Region for Coca-Cola. John J. Culhane is interim general counsel for the company, pending his election as corporate officer.

The Austin Co. promoted Don Schjeldahl to vice president & director, facilities location group. He has been with the company for 20 years.

According to a study by the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University, consumers prefer locally grown food over organic. The survey included responses from more than 1,600 consumers in Iowa and seven other Midwestern states as well as Boston and Seattle. More than 75 percent of those surveyed chose products labeled "grown locally by family farmers" as their first choice for produce or meat products.

The Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (PMMI) promoted Paula Feldman to director of statistics. She joined PMMI in April 1999 as manager of statistics.