Henderson, NC – A major pet food manufacturing facility in Vance County is set to shut down, leaving more than a hundred workers facing job losses as the company winds down operations over the next two years.
According to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) filing submitted to the North Carolina Department of Commerce, Mars Petcare US, Inc. plans to permanently close its manufacturing plant in Henderson by Thursday, Dec. 31, 2026. The closure is expected to affect 149 employees working at the facility.
Company officials stated in the filing that the shutdown will occur as part of a broader operational transition. The Henderson plant has produced pet food products under the Mars Petcare portfolio, which includes several nationally recognized brands distributed across the United States.
The WARN Act requires large employers to provide advance notice of significant layoffs or plant closures so employees and local communities have time to prepare for potential economic impacts. The filing indicates affected workers will experience job losses as operations wind down leading up to the final closure date.
Local economic development officials often work with state agencies following WARN notices to help impacted employees access workforce resources. These resources can include job placement assistance, retraining programs, and unemployment benefits.
The Henderson facility has long served as a manufacturing employer in Vance County, and its closure could have ripple effects for the local workforce and surrounding businesses that rely on plant activity.
Mars Petcare has not publicly outlined whether affected employees may have opportunities for transfer to other company facilities. Large manufacturing closures sometimes include internal placement options depending on operational needs and available positions.
State workforce agencies typically coordinate with companies that file WARN notices to organize worker assistance events and provide guidance on next steps for employees preparing for the transition.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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