Heinz to Sell Can-Making Plants to Dutch Firm

H.J. Heinz Co. agreed to sell its can-making operations in North America, including a plant on Terminal Island, to closely held Impress Metal Packaging Holdings for an undisclosed price. Pittsburgh-based Heinz, which makes Star-Kist tuna, is the nation’s largest tuna canner. Its other brands include 9-Lives cat food, its namesake ketchup and Ore-Ida frozen potatoes. The sale, along with Star-Kist’s plan to introduce tuna in pouches, signals that Heinz is focusing on more convenient packaging. Impress, based in Amsterdam, will also get can-making operations at Heinz’s plants in Bloomsburg, Pa., American Samoa and Puerto Rico. Heinz stock rose 38 cents to close at $41.81 on the Big Board.