A Mason City factory where pre-packaged pudding cups are made will be seeing layoffs by the end of the year. Kraft Foods will be laying off up to 50 full-time workers at its Mason City plant in December.

Corporate spokeswoman Joyce Hodel says the layoffs are part of a reduction process that will take about eight weeks to complete, with the actual layoffs coming sometime in December. Hodel says the layoffs are the result of external conditions, seasonality and efficiencies at the plant. This round of layoffs is in addition to two plant shutdowns this fall.

The plant shut down for a week earlier this month and is scheduled to be closed for several days around the Thanksgiving holiday.

By Bob Fisher, KRIB, Mason City