Illinois bakery plant closure to eliminate nearly 90 jobs as food manufacturing layoffs continue

Another food manufacturer is preparing to shut down operations in Illinois, adding to a growing list of companies announcing layoffs across the industry. The latest closure will leave dozens of employees searching for new jobs while highlighting the continued challenges facing some food producers.

Nearly 90 workers affected by planned closure

According to a recent Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) filing, Simon Bros. Bakery plans to permanently close its Skokie, Illinois, facility, affecting 89 employees. The closure was included in the state’s July WARN report, which tracks mass layoffs and plant closures requiring advance notice under Illinois law.. However, an effective date of closure was not listed in the notice.

Simon Bros. Bakery is a family-owned wholesale bakery that has operated for decades, producing frozen desserts, cakes, cheesecakes and other baked goods for restaurants, hotels, caterers and foodservice customers across the country. The company traces its roots to a Chicago neighborhood bakery before expanding into commercial food production.

Food manufacturers continue restructuring

While Simon Bros. Bakery has not publicly detailed the reasons behind the closure, the announcement comes as food manufacturers nationwide continue to adjust operations amid rising production costs, changing consumer demand and ongoing efforts to improve efficiency. Over the past year, several well-known food and beverage companies have announced plant closures, layoffs or operational consolidations as they respond to economic pressures.

Support available for affected workers

Under Illinois’ WARN Act, qualifying employers must provide advance notice of qualifying plant closures and mass layoffs, giving workers and local agencies time to prepare for the transition. State workforce programs typically offer reemployment assistance, job placement services and training opportunities for employees affected by WARN notices.

Although the layoff affects fewer workers than some recent food manufacturing closures, it represents another reminder that even long-established, family-owned businesses are not immune to the challenges facing today’s food production industry. As the closure moves forward, nearly 90 Illinois workers will be looking for their next opportunity.

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