Campbell to Cut Its Work Force by 20% : Retail: The soup maker’s anti-takeover plans also include the sale of several businesses and under-used facilities.

PHILADELPHIA —  Campbell Soup Co., expanding a restructuring program to ward off any hostile takeover, said Friday that it will cut its work force by 20% and sell businesses with revenues of more than $300 million a year.

Campbell said that, with the job cuts already announced, it will reduce its worldwide staff of 55,000 by about 11,000.

The company also said it is eliminating under-performing assets and unnecessary plants around the world to build strong future earnings and cash and to focus the company on its core businesses.

The moves will result in a one-time charge of $247 million against earnings in fiscal 1990, ending July 29. Combined with previously announced actions, the costs will amount to $302 million after taxes in the fiscal year.

“With this action, our board of directors has demonstrated that it is ready and able to make the tough but essential decisions needed for winning results,” Chief Executive David Johnson said.

The Camden, N.J., soup maker has been a frequent target of takeover speculation. The Dorrance family, which holds 58% of Campbell, is split between a majority of members who want to keep Campbell independent and those with a 17% stake who want to sell it.

The businesses to be sold include Campbell’s Fresh Foods Group, consisting of mushroom farms at various sites, Mrs. Giles refrigerated salads, Marie’s salad dressings, and Campbell’s Canadian mushroom business.

The company is also selling a frozen poultry operation in Sumter, S.C., salmon processor Domsea Farms Inc., Win Schuler’s cheese business in Marshall, Mich., and McKellar Watt chilled food operations in Govan, Scotland.

Campbell will close a plant in Fremont, Neb., with 240 workers, a Pepperidge Farm plant in Grand Prairie, Tex., with 50 workers and an equipment manufacturing center in Moorestown, N.J., that employs 51.

Since taking office in January, Johnson has accelerated the restructuring involving plant closings, layoffs and the sale of under-performing businesses. He has said Campbell’s independence depends on significant long-term earnings growth. But the minority family interest has stated it wants to sell its stake despite his efforts.

One analyst said Campbell’s move did not diminish its potential appeal to large foreign food companies seeking to enhance their worldwide businesses. Campbell shares rose $1.25 to $57.75 on the New York Stock Exchange.

Campbell Soup said that combined with prior actions taken this year, these divestitures will reduce worldwide employment by 20% and sharply increase sales and operating earnings per employee.

Last month, Campbell announced that it was selling international businesses with revenues exceeding $200 million.