AM I NEXT? SHEARER'S FOOD

Massillon, Ohio-based Shearer's Foods, a manufacturer of private-brand salty snack products including potato chips, tortillas, whole grain chips, cheese curls/puffs, popcorn, pork rinds, rice crisps, wafers, cookies, and both sweet and savory biscuits, has announced the closure of its Bristol, Virginia, manufacturing facility on or around September 26, 2026.

The closure will impact 155 employees.

According to CEO Bill Nictakis, "Our Bristol team members have worked hard, represented Shearer’s with pride and contributed meaningfully to our business. Our focus now is on treating every affected team member with respect and providing practical support as they prepare for what comes next. This was a difficult business decision and one we did not take lightly.

Change is constant, and it's coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life, nor promises of a bright future. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something terrible hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, at any time, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. While many employees can read the writing on the wall, why do most assume it’s targeted at someone else? Are you now wondering, Am I Next?

AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT NIPPON ELECTRIC GLASS AMERICA

Schaumburg, Illinois-based Nippon Electric Glass America, a fiberglass producer, has announced that its parent company, Nippon Electric Glass, is withdrawing from glass fiber manufacturing in North America due to intense market competition. It will be closing its manufacturing plant in Shelby, North Carolina.

The closure will impact 282 employees. Layoffs will commence on August 31, 2026, and the overall process is expected to conclude by September 30, 2027.

According to a company statement, "The business environment surrounding our Group’s composites business has remained challenging in recent years due to changes in market structure and intensifying competition. Through these measures, we have been working to restructure our production operations, while also striving to improve productivity and review our product portfolio. With this decision, we will streamline less competitive products to concentrate our management resources on growth areas and achieving medium- to long-term growth and improved profitability in the composites business."

Change is constant, and it's coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life, nor promises of a bright future. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something terrible hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, at any time, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. While many employees can read the writing on the wall, why do most assume it’s targeted at someone else? Are you now wondering, Am I Next?

AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT INTERNATIONAL MOTORS

Lisle, Illinois-based International Motors, a manufacturer of commercial vehicles and engines, has announced a major reduction in force at its Springfield, Ohio Assembly Plant and Truck Specialty Center due to the September 30, 2026, expiration of a contract manufacturing agreement with General Motors.

The assets will be sold to Brampton, Ontario, Canada-based Roshel, a defense contractor and manufacturer specializing in the design and fabrication of smart armored vehicles. The plant will become Roshel's U.S. manufacturing hub.

The reduction will impact 1,341 employees, with the simultaneous end of operations and employment on October 2, 2026.

According to a company statement, “With the end of our contract manufacturing agreement, we have been working diligently to find a suitable path for the Springfield Assembly Plant. We have been focused on finding a buyer that values the capabilities of this historic facility and the community. We believe this path forward positions the plant for long-term success, while utilizing the manufacturing expertise developed in Springfield over many decades.”

Change is constant, and it's coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life, nor promises of a bright future. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something terrible hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, at any time, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. While many employees can read the writing on the wall, why do most assume it’s targeted at someone else? Are you now wondering, Am I Next?