Mars, the snacks and confectionery company, has announced plans to permanently close its Nature’s Bakery manufacturing plant in Hazelwood (MO).
According to a local government Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) filing, the shutdown will take place by September 2027 and will result in the elimination of 345 jobs. The layoffs will be executed in two rounds, with 130 employees scheduled to leave on 11th September this year, followed by a further 215 workers on 26th February next year.
A spokesperson for the Nature’s Bakery brand, which produces plant-based, nut-free and dairy-free snack bars, stated: “As we continuously evaluate our manufacturing footprint and evolving business needs, we’ve carefully made the difficult decision to close our Hazelwood manufacturing facility in September 2027”.
Production will be transferred to other facilities, including a 339,000 sq ftt automated factory in Salt Lake City (UT), which opened in 2025 following a $237 million investment. Nature’s Bakery also operates a plant in Carson City (NV). Mars originally acquired Nature’s Bakery in 2020 through Kind, its snacking business.
Source: Food Business News / Just Food
