MARCH 18, 2026 — FACILITY CLOSURE, 443 EMPLOYEES
The company announced the permanent closure of its 425,000-square-foot Sturtevant, Wisconsin, warehouse and distribution facility, which will commence in June 2026, as part of a network optimization strategy, with operations transitioning to other Midwest facilities.
The closure will impact 443 employees.
According to a company spokesperson, “As part of our strategic focus on optimizing our network to more effectively and efficiently serve our customers and suppliers, we are transitioning service from our Racine, Wisconsin, distribution center (DC) and expanding our Joliet, Illinois, DC’s capabilities to support long-term growth in the greater Chicago market. The modern technology investments we’re making in Joliet are expected to increase the DC’s capacity and improve service to our partners over time. We are grateful to our associates at the Racine distribution center and are working to support them through the transition.”
JANUARY 21, 2025 — Original post…
Providence, Rhode Island-based United Natural Foods, a wholesale distributor of health and specialty foods, has announced the closure of its
Fort Wayne, Indiana, distribution center.
This is the third round of layoffs in the last four months. The closure will impact 156 employees and will be completed by the first quarter of 2025.
According to a company spokesperson, “At UNFI, we continuously evaluate our distribution network to ensure we serve our customers and suppliers as efficiently and effectively as possible. Following this transition, our customers will gain access to a broader product assortment, including more fresh options, and our suppliers will be able to reach customers more efficiently.”
In October, UNFI laid off billing, invoice, and payroll personnel in Phoenix, Arizona, which impacted close to 300 employees, and a transportation operation located at the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, distribution center, eliminating 87 employees.
Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something terrible hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. While many employees can read the writing on the wall, why do most assume it’s targeted at someone else? Are you now wondering, Am I Next?
