A familiar snack brand is preparing to shut down one of its U.S. manufacturing facilities, putting hundreds of jobs at risk. The closure is part of a broader shift in where the company produces its popular snack products.
Nature’s Bakery plant to close
Nature’s Bakery, a snack brand owned by Mars Inc., is closing its manufacturing facility in Hazelwood, Missouri, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) filing with the state.
The closure is expected to affect 345 employees. The facility at 8860 Pershall Road will continue operating through 2026, with the permanent closure planned for September 2027.
The layoffs will occur in two phases. The first group of 130 employees is scheduled to separate from the company on September 11, 2026. Another 215 employees are expected to be affected on February 26, 2027.
Production moving to other facilities
Nature’s Bakery said manufacturing currently performed at the Hazelwood facility will be transferred to other company locations.
The brand operates additional manufacturing facilities in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Carson City, Nevada. Mars also recently invested heavily in its Salt Lake City operation, opening a roughly $237 million production facility in 2025.
The newer Salt Lake City facility uses automation and is designed to produce more than 1 billion Nature’s Bakery bars annually, according to Mars.
Workers can seek other positions
Mars said employees affected by the closure may have opportunities to pursue other positions within Nature’s Bakery or the broader Mars organization.
The company described the decision as part of an ongoing evaluation of its manufacturing footprint and business needs. Mars also said the closure does not reflect the performance of the Hazelwood facility or its employees.
Nature’s Bakery products, including its popular fig bars and other soft-baked snacks, are sold nationwide at major retailers such as Walmart, Target, and Costco. The Hazelwood closure will therefore affect hundreds of workers even as the brand continues operating and shifting production to other facilities.
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