PITTSBURGH – The H.J. Heinz Co. will eliminate 600 office positions as it transitions to a private company.

“After a comprehensive evaluation process, the company has developed a new streamlined structure for Heinz North America,” Michael Mullen, senior vice-president of corporate and government affairs for Pittsburgh-based Heinz, said Aug. 13. “Unfortunately, this process resulted in a number of difficult but necessary organizational changes, including the elimination of 600 office positions across the U.S. and Canada, including 350 in Pittsburgh.”

Heinz will offer severance benefits and outplacement services, he said. The company will remain headquartered in Pittsburgh, as it has been for 144 years. Heinz will continue to employ 800 people in the Pittsburgh region and 6,000 across North America, Mr. Mullen said.

“The difficult actions we are taking now will better position the company to support and fund our next chapter of growth while further strengthening our world-leading brands,” Mr. Mullen said. “Our new organizational structure will simplify, strengthen and leverage the company’s global scale while enabling faster decision making, increased accountability and accelerated growth.”

The elimination of the office positions comes after an investment consortium comprised of Berkshire Hathaway and an investment fund affiliated with 3G Capital on June 7 completed the acquisition of H.J. Heinz in a transaction valued at $28 billion.