Incomplete list of announced United States food supply shutdowns for the month of April, 2018: Many food suppliers/distributors are consolidating operations and killing jobs due to the collapsing grocery store and restaurant industries, as well as rising costs of food production, spread of disease and extreme weather.
China began imposing tariffs on more than a hundred U.S. products, including agricultural products.
The American Bankers Association says loans to farmers increased by 6% in 2017.
Pinnacle Foods recalling 32-thousand-5-hundred pounds (14741.7 kilos) of Armour Star brand ready-to-eat dried, sliced beef which might be infected with staphylococcal enterotoxin and clostridial toxin.
Arizona: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says the epicenter for a growing e. coli epidemic is lettuce farms in Yuma, Arizona.
California: CKE Restaurant Holdings (Carl’s Jr, Hardee’s, Green Burrito, Red Burrito) suddenly laid off 173 people in Anaheim (maybe in connection to the consolidation of HQ ops to Tennessee, or because of CKE’s massive debt)! Also in Anaheim, Rainforest Cafe issued a shutdown WARN, 356 jobs gone by mid-June! Switzerland based Nestlé continues to issue layoff WARNs, this time 54 Californians losing their jobs by mid-June. Pacific South Farms shutting down by the end of May. Gluten free Marys Gone Crackers issued a shutdown WARN for operations in Gridley, 137 jobs gone by the end of May! Sacramento based bakery Caffe Ettore (Ettore’s Bakery & Cafe, and is supplier to Nugget Markets) now chapter 11 bankrupt busted. In Berkeley, after 60 years Virginia Bakery shutdown so the long time owners can finally retire. In San Jose, after 106 years (surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions) chocolate maker Schurra’s shutdown: “After years of effort and difficult decisions, the Mundy family has had to face the harsh reality that our business model must change in order to survive.”
Colorado: In Pueblo, after 50 years The Sweeny Feed Mill shutdown, the owners saying that sales began crashing in 2012, but the final straw was when the electric bill hit $2-thousand-5-hundred USD per month! Grant Farms now chapter 7 bankrupt busted, guess it doesn’t pay to be ‘organic’.
Connecticut: France based yogurt maker Dannon (Danone) issued a shutdown WARN for its Naugatuck ops, 147 jobs gone between December 2018 and March 2019! Milford based Subway shutting down 5-hundred sandwich shops across the U.S., blaming crashing sales on competition (or possibly admitting that following the Starbucks trend of building a shop on every block doesn’t work, because your only competing with yourself). In West Hartford, Tapas Restaurant shutdown after 32 years, so the owners can focus on their other restaurant.
Delaware: After ten years Cupcake Heaven shutting down in May.
Florida: In Fort Myers Beach, after 22 years Topps Supermarket shutdown because the greedy landlord wanted them out. After ten years Tommy Bahama’s shutting down its Orlando location, the company refused to comment, the shutdown was revealed by an employee and the property owner. After 93 years Clark’s Fish Camp, in Jacksonville, now chapter 11 bankrupt busted due to Mother Earth: “…hurricanes Matthew and Irma caused significant damage to the restaurant and required us to close for prolonged periods of time in 2016 and 2017. The combined losses associated with the property damage and loss of income due to the closures put us in a financial position where we were unable to timely satisfy all of our creditors.”
TheHorse: Florida Farm Operator Charged With Animal Cruelty
Georgia: Piggly Wiggly shutdown their 25 years old grocery store in Hogansville, with only four days notice: “A business isn’t in business to lose money and at some point you have to make a decision to cut your losses.”-Scott Lewis, president Rockdale Grocery
Illinois: In Quincy, Krazy Cakes Bakery suddenly shutdown put up for sale. Fresh Thyme Farmers Market shutting down it’s four years old location in Deerfield, in May, the store manager told local news media “If you don’t thrive, you don’t survive.” British empire owned food service contractor Chartwells eliminating 84 Chicago International Charter School jobs in June, due to loss of contract. Food service contractor Aramark Campus Services eliminating 81 Lake Forest College jobs in June, due to loss of contract. Meat packer West Liberty Foods WARNed of an undisclosed number of mass layoffs in June, due to production line shutdowns at two separate locations. In Chicago, after 28 years RoSal’s Italian Cucina shutting down in May: “Bottom line, things have changed. Business has been steady, not amazing.”-Cyndi Fulco, co-owner
Indiana: France based food service contractor Sodexo issued a shutdown WARN, 81 Hanover jobs gone by the end of June. The 24 years old Third Generation Pizza location in Chesterfield shutdown due to the death of the owner.
Iowa: Food service contractor Aramark Campus Services eliminating 78 Des Moines jobs in June. Hybrid seed producer Pioneer Hi-Bred International eliminating 23 jobs in June. In Ankeny, after 11 years Palmer’s Deli and Market suddenly shutdown so the owner could focus on his store in Des Moines.
Kansas: Hooters suddenly shutdown its Wichita location with only two days warning to employees, blaming it on the greedy landlord.
Maine: After 47 years, Rolandeau’s shutting down in May, because the owner is finally tired of working 14 hours per day. After only three years and $4-million USD in state taxpayer funded grants, as well as federal and city government loans, halal meat processor Central Maine Meats now chapter 12 bankrupt busted.
Maryland: In Salisbury, after 20 years Devage’s Subs and Donuts shutdown. South Mountain Creamery suing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for forcing the adding of vitamins A and D to their skim milk.
Massachusetts: The sudden shutdown of Mount Ida College resulting in food service contractor Aramark Campus Services eliminating 77 jobs. Northborough based pizza chain Bertucci’s now chapter 11 bankrupt busted and already shutting down 29 restaurants. In Taunton, after 17 years popular Oak Street Cafe suddenly shutdown “…due to things out of our control…”
Michigan: In Petoskey, after 12 years Grand Traverse Pie Company shutdown, local news reports said there are a variety of reasons. In Marquette, candy shop Sayklly’s shutdown its 26 years old Westwood Mall location, as part of company plans to shift to online sales only. In Bedford, after more than 70 years Zeiler’s Farm Market shutdown due to lack of sales.
Mississippi: In Ocean Springs, after 21 years Bayview Gourmet suddenly shutdown due to being “unable to come to terms with the owner of our location after months of negotiations over the new lease.”
Missouri: In Kansas City, Balls Food Stores suddenly shutdown its 25 years old Northland Hen House Market due to “lack of sales”.
New Jersey: Food service contractor Aramark Campus Services eliminating 147 Lawrenceville jobs in June! In Perth Amboy, after 43 years Al Cibelli’s Bar & Grill shutting down so the owner can deal with chronic pain, and spend more time with family. In Camden, after four years Copper River Distillers shutdown for “a variety of business and personal reasons”. In Toms River, after 14 years popular Francolli’s Pizza suddenly shutdown due to the loss of their lease.
New York: Scarnato’s Ristorante shutdown after five years in Castleton-On-Hudson. In Brooklyn-NYC, 1 BB Food and Drink issued a shutdown WARN, 144 jobs gone in May, due to expired contract! In Owego, Thompson’s Grocery shutdown: “We’re tired after seventy years of seven days a week, we had enough!”-Ray Thompson
North Carolina: In Raleigh, Tasty 8’s hot dog joint suddenly shutdown due to the dentist-owner having to deal with increased cases of people with bad teeth at his dental ops! Indiana based Rose Acre Farms recalled almost 207 million eggs from its North Carolina ops, due to an FDA report about “accumulated grime”. Kansas based grocery chain Dean & Deluca suddenly shutdown three small locations, 106 jobs gone!
Ohio: Food service contractor Aramark Campus Services eliminating 75 Capital University jobs in June.
Oklahoma: Early wildfires destroyed grazing land for Oklahoma ranchers, the result is that farmers and ranchers from across the U.S. began shipping in hay, for free!
Pennsylvania: In Philadelphia, McDonald’s suddenly shutdown its restaurant on 2033 South Broad Street, the small location is now available for $5-thousand USD per month in rent. France based food service contractor Sodexo issued a shutdown WARN for its Juniata College ops, 95 jobs gone by the end of May. Pittsburgh based GNC shutting down 2-hundred stores across the U.S., in an attempt to deal with $1-billion USD of debt and to expand operations in China. Zitner Candy now chapter 11 bankrupt busted, saying “The cash flow of the company just doesn’t support the large secured debt that was put on it.” In State College, after 15 years Herwig’s Austrian Bistro shutting down in May, at least a month sooner than planned, due to the owner’s health problems.
Tennessee: California based Sprinkles Cupcakes suddenly shutdown their three years old Nashville location, no explanation.
Texas: After more than 50 years, iconic Dairy Queen (nicknamed The Texas Stop Sign) shutting down 10 restaurants across the panhandle (as well as 60 eateries elsewhere), due to the bankruptcy ‘death’ of franchise owner Vasari.
Washington: “In seven Washington counties, cows outnumber people.”
Seattle Times: Solar panels on farmland? In Central Washington, that stirs a fight
Washington DC: Delta Farm Press: Could SNAP decision scuttle 2018 farm bill?
Washington Times: Farm bill’s out-of-control subsidies are more about cronyism than a safety net
Wisconsin: Sendik’s Food Market shutdown its store on Miller Park Way in West Milwaukee, 73 jobs gone because “…we simply aren’t seeing the customer traffic and results to warrant continued operation.” In Appleton, after 41 years kitchen utensil store The Wire Whisk shutdown.
The Seattle Times: Wisconsin has agriculture agent shortage despite high demand
WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification
U.S. FOOD CRISIS: WEST VIRGINIA OPERATION CARROT? STATE SPONSORED SURVIVALISM!
U.S. Food Crisis, March 2018:“WE ARE LOSING CUSTOMERS EVERYDAY” MORE THAN 11-THOUSAND JOBS KILLED!