Ohio food service supplier lays off 64 workers as Toledo facility changes hands

A long-running Ohio manufacturing operation that supplied branded drinkware and beverage products reduced its workforce this spring, with dozens of employees losing their jobs as the company transitioned ownership of a Toledo facility.

The layoffs came as the plant changed hands, although a portion of the workforce was expected to remain employed under the new operator.

Layoffs were tied to facility sale

According to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) filing, Boelter Companies laid off 64 employees at its Custom Deco, LLC facility on Miami Street in Toledo. The layoffs began on May 11, and the plant ceased operating under Boelter by May 29.

Boelter, a Wisconsin-based company that provides foodservice equipment, branded beverage products and commercial kitchen solutions to restaurants, breweries and other hospitality businesses, said the workforce reduction was tied to the sale of the Toledo operation.

Some employees were expected to stay on

While the closure affected 64 workers, the WARN notice stated that the purchasing company intended to hire 22 of the facility’s employees. That meant some workers were expected to transition directly to the new owner, while others needed to seek new employment.

The Toledo plant specialized in decorating custom glassware and beverage-related products used by breweries, restaurants and hospitality businesses. The closure marked another shift within the foodservice manufacturing sector, where companies have continued adjusting operations in response to changing market conditions.

Part of a broader trend

Ohio law requires certain employers to provide advance notice of large layoffs through the WARN Act, giving affected employees time to prepare for job losses and access workforce assistance programs.

The Boelter filing was among several WARN notices submitted in Ohio during March, a month that saw more than 1,500 workers across multiple industries affected by planned layoffs and facility closures statewide. 

While some Toledo employees were expected to continue working under the facility’s new owner, the workforce reduction highlighted the ongoing changes affecting manufacturers that serve the restaurant, hospitality and beverage industries.

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