Ice cream is about to stop rolling off the line at a Brentwood factory. Ice Cream Specialties plans to end production at its Hanley Industrial Court plant by the end of 2026, and 107 workers are expected to be laid off once it does.
According to Fox 2 Now, the company says it is “ceasing production for ice cream and consumer products” by the end of the year, but its freezer will remain in operation. The facility sits at 8419 Hanley Industrial Court. The layoffs include packers, cooler workers, warehouse managers, sanitation workers and sales representatives.
A key question remains open. The letter reviewed by the station did not clarify whether the company plans to permanently close the entire facility or only discontinue production operations.
What the Layoffs Look Like
Reporting by STLtoday.com puts a finer point on who is affected. The plant manufactures North Star-branded ice cream sandwiches, popsicles and sundae cones, and the cuts reportedly affect 107 workers.
Production employees will remain employed through at least Dec. 31, 2026, according to the WARN notice. Affected employees have recall rights for up to three years. Bumping rights are included in the collective bargaining agreement and could affect which employees are ultimately laid off.
The same account notes that Teamsters Local Union 600 represents workers at the facility. Fox 2 Now adds that affected employees may be able to take other union-covered positions.
Another Missouri Ice Cream Plant Goes Quiet
Brentwood is not the only Missouri ice cream operation in trouble this fall. KY3 reports that The Ice Cream Factory in Lebanon is closing its doors, according to CEO Gail Kurpgeweit.
Last year, former owner Shannon Imler sold a controlling interest in that company to PNC Brands Group. Part of the Lebanon manufacturing complex, which the city does not own, was scheduled to be auctioned the week of Oct. 26, 2026. Lebanon city leaders said they had not received official notice from the company and directed operational questions to the Ice Cream Factory and PNC Brands Group.
A Bright Spot Elsewhere in St. Louis
The regional food manufacturing picture is not all red ink. The Missouri Department of Economic Development announced in April that Winland Foods is expanding in St. Louis, investing $38.5 million and creating 25 new jobs. That is a fraction of the Brentwood losses, but it shows hiring is still happening in the sector.
Workers hoping to track official filings can turn to the state's WARN notice page, which lets users sign up for updates on notices submitted to the Office of Workforce Development.
