Food manufacturing closures are continuing to hit local communities, following another snack producer’s decision to close its only Michigan facility. The latest shutdown will eliminate approximately 155 jobs in Bristol, Virginia.
Shearer’s Foods announced that production at its Bristol plant will stop July 31. The company expects the facility itself to close September 26, giving employees and the community only a short window to prepare for the loss.
Shearer’s says customer demand shifted
In a statement shared by WCYB, Shearer’s said it reviewed its manufacturing network and long-term operating needs before making the decision. Production at the Bristol facility had declined as customer demand shifted, according to the company.
Shearer’s is a major contract manufacturer and private-label supplier rather than a company focused solely on one nationally advertised chip brand. Its plants produce salty snacks, cookies and crackers for retailers and other food companies, which means consumers may have eaten products made at the facility without seeing the Shearer’s name on the package.
The company said eligible workers may apply for available positions at other Shearer’s facilities. It also said the closure does not reflect the effort or professionalism of the Bristol workforce.
The plant has deep roots in Bristol
The site’s food-production history stretches back decades. Local reporting traces its roots to a potato-chip business started by the family of J.W. Moore in the early 20th century. The current Bristol plant opened in 1965 and was partially rebuilt after a 1988 fire.
That history makes the closure more than a routine manufacturing adjustment. The plant has provided generations of industrial jobs in a region that straddles Virginia and Tennessee, and losing 155 positions can ripple through nearby restaurants, retailers, housing and service businesses.
No final decision has been announced about the future of the property. Shearer’s said it will work with the owner to evaluate possibilities for the site after production ends.
For affected families, July 31 is the most immediate date: that is when the last scheduled production will stop. The September closure will mark the formal end of operations unless another company or buyer eventually finds a new use for the longtime Bristol facility.
Links on this page may be affiliate links, for which the site earns a small commission, but the price for you is the same
Leave a Comment