Over the past six months, Michigan’s food and beverage industry has seen several major layoffs and plant closures, affecting hundreds of workers from production floors to dining rooms. Economic pressures, supply chain restructuring, and operational shifts have driven these impacts across manufacturing and hospitality categories.
Historic Muskegon plant closure — Cole’s Quality Foods
September-November 2025: Cole’s Quality Foods, the nearly century-old frozen bread and garlic bread maker in Muskegon, ceased production on September 10, 2025, and officially closed the facility on November 9, 2025.
According to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) filing, the closure was expected to affect approximately 171 workers at the Lakeshore Drive plant. The move marks the end of operations at the site, which was founded in 1943, after decades of local production.
Local news reports indicate plant production ended the same day the WARN notice was filed, with office staff remaining for administrative work until the official closure date. Impacted employees will receive pay through the transition period under federal WARN requirements.
Utz Brands facility wind-down in Grand Rapids
August 2025 – January 30, 2026: Utz Brands announced on August 1, 2025, that it will permanently close its Grand Rapids manufacturing facility as part of a broader supply-chain consolidation strategy. The company said manufacturing operations are set to end January 30, 2026, with warehouse operations continuing through May 26, 2026. An estimated 75 employees will be affected by the closure.
The closure reflects efforts to reduce costs and streamline production by reallocating output to larger plants in other states. Utz has stated it will provide transition assistance to affected workers.
Independent restaurants and hospitality workforce impacts
Several independent eateries and bars have closed permanently or reduced staff within the past six months. These closures, often driven by rising operating costs and shifting consumer behavior, result in job losses that can occur more suddenly and without notice (smaller businesses aren’t obligated to follow WARN Act laws requiring employers to give employees advance notice of layoffs).
For instance, a favorite restaurant serving the town of Plymouth, Michigan, for 66 years was closed in December 2025. The closure was caused by the sale of the building that the restaurant inhabited for over six decades.
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