Harvest Sherwood Food Distributors Announces Nationwide Shutdown

Harvest Sherwood Food Distributors, a prominent Detroit-based meat and food distribution company, has announced plans to cease operations nationwide, resulting in layoffs affecting approximately 1,500 employees. The company has filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notice, indicating that the shutdown process will commence on April 21, 2025. 

Harvest Sherwood closing (WARN)

The closures will impact multiple facilities across the United States, including significant layoffs in Michigan (255 employees), South Florida (130 employees), and Portland, Oregon (96 employees). In Portland, the affected facility operates under the name Western Boxed Meat Inc., located at 2401 Northeast Argyle Street. Employees at this location are expected to remain on the job until the shutdown is completed on April 21.

Harvest Sherwood Food Distributors was established in 2017 through the merger of Harvest Food Distributors and Sherwood Food Distributors, creating a comprehensive coast-to-coast meat distribution network.

Despite not providing the required 60-day notice for layoffs, citing a "faltering company exemption," Harvest Sherwood has committed to compensating all affected employees for the full notice period.

This development marks a significant shift in the meat distribution industry, as Harvest Sherwood has been a major player, shipping over 20 million pounds of food products weekly through a network of distribution centers across the country.

The company has not publicly disclosed the reasons for its closure.