ROCKFORD, IL — TreeHouse Private Brands Inc., which operates a South Beloit cookie and cracker production facility, is among 10 companies that in February informed the state of Illinois of coming layoffs.
The Illinois Department of Commerce compiles a monthly list of businesses that report layoffs as part of the Illinois Worker Adjustment and Retraining Act, also known as the WARN Act.
There were 10 Illinois businesses including manufacturing, banking, restaurants and retailers listed in the Feburary rundown. Here’s what was included.
TreeHouse closing
TreeHouse Foods Inc. announced in February that it would layoff its remaining 168 workers starting April 17 in South Beloit as the European Industrial F&B Investments III, Inc. completes its $2.9 billion purchase of the private label brand food and snack company.
TreeHouse Foods is one of the largest private brands snacking and beverage manufacturers in the United States, according to information from the company. The European investment group is taking ownership of the comapny. In a previous WARN notice on March 28, 2025, Treehouse announced it was laying off 129 South Beloit workers.
Walgreens lays off 469 Illinois workers
Walgreens issued a WARN notice that it is laying off 416 employees from its headquarters in Deerfield, 52 in Chicago and one in Danville as it reorganizes. Walgreens with 8,000 locations had announced in August 2025 that it is now operating as a private standalone company following its acquisition by Sycamore Partners, a New York private equity firm in partnership with Stefano Pessina and his family.
Commercial banker plans Illinois layoffs
Wells Fargo in February warned that it was laying off 32 employees in March and another nine in April as it closes its Rosemont office amid restructuring. A supplemental WARN notice said that another four employees would be laid off April 18.
A Wells Fargo spokesperson said affected employees would receive severance packages based on years of service and could continue to participate in the company health plan, the Peoria Journal Star reported.
Hospital acquisition impacts employees
Hospital and Alverno Labs employees at the 214-bed Franciscan Health Olympia Fields are being impacted after the hospital system was bought out by Prime Healthcare.
Illinois was warned that Alverno Labs’ 66 workers and the the hospital’s 1,864 workers were being laid off. However, the layoffs are actually more like transfers and are scheduled to take place April 1.
In a news release announcing the acquisition, Prime Healthcare said it planned to “offer employment to substantially all employees and will continue charity care and community benefit programs.”
Auto parts manufacturer laying off 1,034
Auto parts manufacturer First Brands Group LLC. warned Illinois it was laying off 1,031 employees including 959 workers in February and 72 in March from its plant in Albion and its brake manufacturing facility in McHenry.
The layoffs come amid a bankruptcy filing and as the company closes 17 plants. First Brands is selling many of its brands to Premium Guard Inc., according to media reports.
Fashion company, human rights group lay off Chicago workers
Stockholm, Sweden-based H&M Fashion informed Illinois officials that starting May 7 it will lay off 181 employees from its Chicago office as the company restructures.
Heartland Human Care Services, a nonprofit is closing after 135 years and laying off its 145 employees, according to the Illinois WARN report.
Company shutting down Streamwood plant
Swedish engineering company, Trelleborg Sealing Solutions, is closing its gasket, packing and sealing device manufacturing facility in Streamwood, according to the Illinois WARN report.
The company reported plans to lay off 65 workers by Dec. 31, with the first layoffs expected to begin April 30.
Panera Bread shuttering dough facility
Panera Bread is laying off 119 employees as it shutters its fresh dough production facility in Elk Grove Village. It’s part of plan to shift to a new bread baking model in which half-baked bread is finished in-store, the Nation’s Restaurant News reported.
Jeff Kolkey writes about government, economic development and other issues for the Rockford Register Star. He can be reached via email at jkolkey@rrstar.com and on X @jeffkolkey.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: South Beloit plant, Walgreens among nearly 4K layoffs announced in IL
Reporting by Jeff Kolkey, Rockford Register Star / Rockford Register Star
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