Three Weeks Before Christmas, 155 Simmons Workers Told They’re Out

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Milan pet food plant to close in January; layoffs hit nearly 5% of county workforce

By Echo Menges

The Sullivan County community is reeling after learning the Simmons pet food plant is slated to be closed just one month into the new year.

Local government officials and Simmons employees were notified on Wednesday, Dec. 3, of the coming closure in accordance with federal law, the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, 29 U.S. Code § 2101–2109.

The WARN Act requires employers with 100 or more workers to give local governments and employees at least 60 days’ notice of mass layoffs or plant closures, giving them precious time to retrain or seek new employment. The law was enacted in 1988.

The Simmons plant in Milan will begin laying off 155 employees during a 14-day period starting Jan. 31, 2026.

Employees were notified during a company meeting at the same time written notifications were delivered to officials.

According to the WARN Act notification letter, the layoffs are permanent. The employees are not represented by a union and do not have any bumping rights—meaning they cannot move into other roles or displace workers with less seniority.

Simmons is making a clean break from Milan, also announcing plans to “explore” the sale of the property once the plant is closed.

In a statement published on the Simmons website, Derek Baucom, president of Simmons Animal Nutrition, said, “As a company committed to putting people first, this was a difficult decision that we did not take lightly. We are grateful to our Milan team members and focused on supporting them in the coming weeks.”

The company added, “This decision is part of the company’s strategic efforts to strengthen its operations, enhance efficiency, and drive growth across the business.” In other words, a corporate consolidation—business speak for doing more with fewer people in fewer places.

Simmons operates multiple production facilities across the Midwest and Northeast.

The plant, located at 832 E. Third St. in Milan, has employed workers in a variety of roles. Job titles and the number of people affected include:

Forklift operator – 25

Production associate – 35

Utility – 17

Machine operator – 9

Maintenance technician – 9

Shipping & receiving coordinator – 9

Lead – 7

Refrigeration tech – 4

Production supervisor – 4

Shuttle driver – 3

Janitor – 2

Laboratory technician – 5

Shift manager – 2

Superintendent – 2

People champion – 2

Accounting associate – 1

Parts room attendant – 1

Training specialist – 1

Shipping supervisor – 5

Maintenance supervisor – 1

Maintenance manager – 1

Sr. director of operations – 1

Safety manager – 1

Plant nurse (LPN) – 1

Plant accountant – 1

HR manager – 1

HR coordinator – 1

The Milan facility specializes in protein ingredients used in pet food, fish farming, and livestock feed. Simmons doesn’t disclose who buys the products—its major customers are kept confidential under private-label agreements.

Simmons says it will provide support packages for affected employees, including retention pay and help finding new jobs, touting the company’s “appreciation” for the Milan plant staff. But the timing of the notice— delivered just inside the federal legal requirement— suggests a sharper focus on compliance and cost control than on community impact.

And the timing hurts. Employees were notified just three weeks before Christmas. Now, they face the holidays with uncertainty—trying to keep food on the table, find new jobs, and still put presents under the tree for their kids.

The loss of 155 jobs represents about 2.7% of Sullivan County’s total population, and an estimated 4.9% of its entire workforce, based on census and labor data. The impact will be deeply felt.

This is an ongoing story. More information will be provided as it becomes available.