Maple Leaf Foods Inc., Toronto, said it will close a prepared meats facility located in Surrey, British Columbia, on September 30, 2011.

Diversified foods giant Maple Leaf Foods Inc., Toronto, said it plans by May 2011 to close its prepared meats facility in Berwick, Nova Scotia.

Prepared meats and sandwiches processor Pierre Foods Inc., Cincinnati, said it plans in August to close its pre-cooked chicken and meats plant in Rome, Ga.

Frozen meat processor Lopez Foods, Inc., Oklahoma City, Okla., said founder and Chairman John Lopez is retiring.

Internet grocer Peapod, Skokie, Ill., is offering its own “restaurant-caliber” Chef Express Smart Selections prepared meals, developed by Chicago chef Michael Foley.

Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market Inc., El Segundo, Calif., said new 40- to 45-ounce prepared meals -- introduced just last month -- already have become big sellers.

Prepared meat and sandwich processor Pierre Foods Inc., Cincinnati, said Dean Hollis and Margaret Cannella joined the company's board of directors.

Prepared meats and sandwich processor Pierre Foods Inc., Cincinnati, said it successfully emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization and that it hired William Toler as chief executive officer.

UK-based Brakes was looking for equipment that was diverse enough to handle all types and shapes of pasta - particularly long pastas such as fettuccine, linguine, tagliatelle and spaghetti.