Junior Planning Manager

HelloFresh to close Swedesboro facility, 374 jobs to be cut in November. HelloFresh announced on Aug. 18 plans to close its Swedesboro distribution center in Gloucester County and eliminate 374 jobs, effective Nov. 17, according to a required WARN notice filed with the state. The company said the Swedesboro operations will be integrated into its broader fulfillment network but did not specify whether its other New Jersey distribution centers in Newark and Totowa will absorb the work or if it will be handled by facilities elsewhere. In both 2025 and 2026, HelloFresh also announced layoffs tied to facility closings in Texas and Illinois. HelloFresh joins several major employers that have recently revealed plans to downsize their New Jersey operations, expand outside the state, or relocate entirely. Earlier in July, Mars Wrigley said it would close its headquarters in Newark and cut 307 jobs as part of a $100 million expansion in Chicago. Samsung also recently announced it is moving its U.S. corporate headquarters from Englewood Cliffs to Plano, Texas, affecting 739 jobs. Other large layoffs reported via WARN notices filed with the state Department of Labor & Workforce Development during July and August include: 322 workers from East Hanover-based Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation; 282 workers from Verizon Corporate Resources Group LLC; 139 workers from Vineland glass manufacturer Gerresheimer; 173 workers from JPMorgan Chase in Jersey City; and 86 workers from The Cannabist Company's Vineland cultivation facilities. Some layoffs at companies like Verizon, Novartis, and JPMorgan Chase appear linked more closely to operational disruptions than decisions to move out of state. Senate Majority Leader Anthony Bucco issued a statement on Tuesday saying that the HelloFresh layoffs are a "warning sign," that New Jersey's challenging business climate is moving in the wrong direction. In June, Focus NJ documented tax and workforce consequences of eight high-profile departures from New Jersey over roughly a decade through its Missed Opportunities analysis. The analysis found these corporate moves cost New Jersey over 7,000 jobs, nearly $675 million in annual payroll, and about $27.3 million annually in income tax revenue.

Bucco says HelloFresh closure signals worsening business climate in New Jersey. Senate Republican Leader Anthony M. Bucco said on Aug. 18 that the closure of HelloFresh's Swedesboro distribution center, resulting in the loss of 374 jobs, is another sign of New Jersey's challenging business environment. "HelloFresh is the latest example that New Jersey's business climate is headed in the wrong direction, and Trenton Democrats continue to refuse to listen," Bucco said. "Three hundred seventy-four New Jersey workers are losing their jobs as HelloFresh closes its Swedesboro distribution center. This comes as we watch one major employer after another reduce its presence in our state." Bucco cited several recent examples of companies either closing operations or moving investments out of New Jersey. He referenced Mars Wrigley closing its Newark headquarters and eliminating hundreds of jobs, Samsung and ExxonMobil relocating to Texas, Anheuser-Busch shutting down its Newark brewery, and Johnson & Johnson choosing Pennsylvania for a manufacturing investment exceeding $1 billion. "These are not isolated events. They are warning signs that Republicans have been pointing to for years," Bucco said. "For years, New Jersey has ranked among the states with the worst business climates in the country. Instead of addressing that problem, Trenton Democrats continue to make it more expensive to do business here." Bucco also criticized new taxes enacted this year and said Republican lawmakers have proposed solutions aimed at improving competitiveness and reducing costs for businesses but claimed Democratic leaders have not acted on them. "Businesses are voting with their feet. If Democrat policies don't change, it will continue to get worse," he said. According to the official website, Bucco serves as Senate Republican Leader representing the 25th Legislative District and chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee while serving on the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee; he provides constituent services through his district office and email for legislative inquiries, and engages in sponsoring bills and committee discussions on key state issues, according to the New Jersey Legislature.

HelloFresh reported Q2 2026 group revenue of €1.5 billion, down 7.8% in constant currency. Meal kit revenue declined 8.9% whilst ready-to-eat revenue fell 8.4%. The company's contribution margin decreased to 25.2%, down 2.1 percentage points year-over-year. Ready-to-eat saw the largest margin decline at 5.2 percentage points. However, the firm showed signs of strategic progress. Average order value increased 6.5% to €71, and marketing spend declined 16.3%. The efficiency programme is 85% complete, delivering structural cost savings. Adjusted EBITDA reached €120.6 million at a 7.8% margin. First-half free cash flow was positive at €49.4 million. Tenured customers over four years now represent 34% of revenue, up from 7% in 2023. HelloFresh issued a €350 million bond to strengthen its capital structure.