In a sudden move that has rattled Missouri’s manufacturing landscape, the Minnesota-headquartered General Mills announced the upcoming closure of three Missouri factories — its St. Louis-area pizza-crust plant and two pet-food facilities in Joplin. The decision reflects growing competitive pressures in the food industry and the company’s efforts to consolidate operations.
Abrupt closures shake local communities
The shutdowns have some time to go into affect in the summer of 2026, but it will affect hundreds of employees across the three facilities. While exact job-loss numbers were not released, General Mills will try to relocate employees to its other facilities as well as it can.
Competitive pressures drive consolidation…