USA: Mars to close Nature's Bakery plant in Missouri. July 15, 2026 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.

Mars to shutter Nature's Bakery plant in Missouri. 07.09.2026 HAZELWOOD, MO. - Nature's Bakery, a division of Mars, Inc. that makes plant-based, dairy-free and nut-free snack bars, has filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notice with the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development detailing plans to close its manufacturing plant in Hazelwood by September 2027. The closing will result in the elimination of 345 jobs as part of a series of layoffs. The first round will comprise 130 employees and is scheduled for Sept. 11. The second round will comprise 215 employees and is scheduled for Feb. 26, 2027. Nature's Bakery said production will be transferred to other facilities. The company operates manufacturing plants in Salt Lake City and Carson City, Nev. The $240 million, 339,000-square-foot facility in Salt Lake City opened in late July 2025. The Salt Lake City plant uses smart automation, including systems for ingredient delivery, mixing and cooling. At the time of its opening, Mars said the facility would be able to produce more than 1 billion Nature's Bakery bars per year. Mars acquired Nature's Bakery in March 2021 via its acquisition of Kind Healthy Snacks. Since then, the brand is projected to more than double its size, Mars said. Founded in 2011, Nature's Bakery makes soft-baked protein and snack bars that are plant-based, nut-free, dairy-free and Non-GMO Project verified. Products include Nature's Bakery Whole Wheat Fig Bars, Gluten Free Fig Bars, Fig Bar Minis, Oatmeal Crumble Bars, Brownie Bars and Hearty Bars. The bars are sold nationally at 100,000 stores, including Target, Walmart and Costco, as well as online through Amazon and the Nature's Bakery website. Get better food industry search results. Adding us tells Google to prioritize Food Business News stories.