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FAIRFIELD — A local food distribution company's closing here early next year will cost 148 people their jobs.

According to mandatory notification to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, U.S. Foodservice's Fairfield facility, located at 4235 Thunderbird Lane, will close on Jan. 11.

The closing will mean the permanent elimination of 148 jobs, including 70 drivers and 45 warehouse workers, according to a letter sent by Jeff Coppenger, division president of North Star Ohio, a subsidiary of U.S. Foodservice.

The drivers and warehouse workers are represented by the Teamsters Local 100, but bumping rights do not exist, according to the letter dated Oct. 23.

In early May, North Star Foodservice's parent company, U.S. Foodservice, announced that it had reached an agreement with private equity firms Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, Inc. and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. to purchase U.S. Foodservice, according to North Star's Web site.

U.S. Foodservice says it has 27,000 employees in more than 70 distribution centers across the country, according to its Web site.

Each of its divisions are managed locally.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2112 or dgreber@coxohio.com.