Sponge cake with cream filling on white background

Smucker to Shutter Hostess’ Former HQ in Lenexa, Kansas

Aug. 6, 2024

Closure of the former headquarters will result in the layoff of 79 workers, brought about by the continued integration of the Hostess business into the Smucker organization.

Andy Hanacek

J.M. Smucker will lay off 79 workers at its Lenexa, Kan., Hostess Brands facility and permanently close the entire former home offices of the company, according to several local news outlets.

The closure of the facility would happen in phases, with the first layoffs scheduled for Sept. 7, 2024. The company filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) on July 29, notifying the state, county and city of the plan.

A Smucker spokesperson told one media outlet that the impacted employees “will be fully supported as they transition,” stating that the layoffs and facility shutdown was a result of updates brought about by the integration of Hostess into the larger Smucker operating model and business.

Smucker acquired Hostess in November 2023 for $5.6 billion. It continues to integrate the sweet baked goods company, with this news and the rumored potential sale of the Voortman Bakery brand the latest moves in the process.

About the Author

Andy Hanacek | Senior Editor

Andy Hanacek has covered meat, poultry, bakery and snack foods as a B2B editor for nearly 20 years, and has toured hundreds of processing plants and food companies, sharing stories of innovation and technological advancement throughout the food supply chain. In 2018, he won a Folio:Eddie Award for his unique "From the Editor's Desk" video blogs, and he has brought home additional awards from Folio and ASBPE over the years. In addition, Hanacek led the Meat Industry Hall of Fame for several years and was vice president of communications for We R Food Safety, a food safety software and consulting company.