Another major food manufacturer is shutting down a U.S. production facility as the plant-based food industry continues facing slowing demand and restructuring pressure.
Danone announced plans to permanently close its Bridgeton, New Jersey manufacturing facility, resulting in approximately 114 layoffs later this year. The plant is scheduled to close on August 4, 2026.
Plant produced Silk and So Delicious products
The Bridgeton facility manufactures dairy-free beverages and creamers sold under Danone brands including Silk and So Delicious Dairy Free.
According to the company, production from the New Jersey facility will be shifted to other Danone plants in Dallas; Mt. Crawford, Virginia; and Jacksonville, Florida as part of a broader restructuring of its manufacturing network.
Danone said the closure is intended to help “transform” its U.S. operations and support long-term investment across its remaining production footprint.
The 185,000-square-foot Bridgeton facility opened in 2001 and was considered significant in the plant-based beverage industry because it housed one of the first soy protein extraction operations in the United States.
Plant-based industry facing growing pressure
The closure comes as plant-based food manufacturers continue struggling with weaker consumer demand after years of rapid growth.
Industry analysts have pointed to inflation, higher grocery prices, and shifting consumer habits as major factors impacting sales of dairy alternatives and meat substitutes. Several plant-based food companies have announced layoffs, restructuring efforts, or facility closures over the past year.
Danone previously acknowledged that its North American plant-based business delivered an “unsatisfactory performance” in 2025.
Part of a broader manufacturing shakeup
The New Jersey closure adds to a growing wave of food and beverage manufacturing cutbacks across the United States in 2026 as companies continue consolidating operations and reducing costs amid economic uncertainty.
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