Chiquita closing headquarters at NASCAR Hall of Fame

Chiquita Brands International is closing its Charlotte headquarters barely more than three years after deciding to move here, the company said Wednesday. Chiquita employs about 320 office workers uptown. Chiquita was acquired earlier this month for about $681 million by two Brazilian companies, who took the banana-and-salads firm private after a bruising takeover fight.

The move out of Charlotte will help streamline Chiquita's business and move its employees closer to suppliers and customers, Chiquita said in its message to employees. The company was lured to Charlotte from Cincinnati in 2011 with the promise of $22 million worth of state and local incentives. Chiquita moved into the NASCAR Plaza office tower, putting its iconic blue and yellow logo atop the building. The company has agreed to refund the city and county $1 million worth of the incentives money. Charlotte Observer