Cargill to close Wisconsin beef plant, lay off 221 workers

Cargill is shuttering a ground-beef processing facility in Milwaukee and laying off 221 workers, part of the Minnetoka-based company’s continued restructuring.

Layoffs will occur in phases beginning April 11 until the plant closes on about May 31, the company said in a Feb. 10 letter to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.

The agribusiness giant announced its reorganization plans in December 2024, saying it would cut about 8,000 jobs globally to simplify operations.

The closure of the Wisconsin meat factory was a way to “better align” Cargill’s portfolio with “current customer demand and prioritize investments where they are needed most for the future,” Cargill said in a statement.

“We recognize the impact this decision has on our 221 employees, and our focus is on supporting them with respect, care and assistance as they navigate this transition,” the statement read.

The Milwaukee plant processed ground beef for large groceries under private-label brands, Cargill’s website said. The plant’s employees can apply for jobs at other company facilities, the letter said, with laid-off workers eligible for severance.

Cargill said in the statement it will shift ground beef production from the facility to its other North American beef-processing facilities, including one in Butler, Wis.

“Cargill’s departure marks the end of an era,” he said.

Cargill, the largest private company in the United States, has laid off nearly 500 employees in the Twin Cities during the past 14 months to help shrink its global workforce by 5%, including 80 jobs at its Minnetonka headquarters in October.