Nearly 300 lose jobs after Johnsonville Foods announces sudden closure of Momence Packing Company facility in Illinois

MOMENCE, Ill. (WLS) — Nearly 300 people lost their jobs on Monday after Johnsonville Foods announced the sudden closure of an Illinois facility.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

The sausage manufacturer notified 274 people that the Momence, Illinois facility was closing effective immediately.

The Momence Packing Company building has been a steady place of employment for the city for more than six decades.

For the last 30 years, it has been owned and operated by Johnsonville Foods.

“It’s like they didn’t even care about us. You know, same day?” former employee Lupe Hernandez said.

Hernandez says she has worked at the plant for 25 years as an office clerk and working in the hog barn.

She said they were called for a mandatory meeting in Kankakee – where the Johnsonville CEO told them the plant was closing down.

“It’s just very devastating, very heartbroken,” Hernandez said. “I’ve done nothing today but sit at home feel sorry for myself. What can we do?”

Local leaders said the news came as a complete surprise.

Momence Mayor Charles Steele said he only received a 15 minute heads up from the sausage producer.

“We depend upon all these employees to live here, get their services here, buy and shop here when they get off work, during lunches, on their way to work. And it’s a huge impact for our community overall, economically,” Steele said.

Tim Nugent is the president and CEO of the Economic Alliance of Kankakee County.

“Just when I was out there a couple weeks ago, the plant manager talked about over a million dollars’ worth of equipment that had recently been installed,” Nugent said. “If they’re investing in infrastructure it means that they made plans to stay around a while.”

Johnsonville Food said in a statement:

“We made the difficult decision after evaluating how best to optimize our operations network to address current and future growth. This decision was based on optimizing our operations across our other newer facilities.”

The company said it will continue to pay and provide benefits to the impacted employees for 60 days.

Hernandez said the pay will help but she planned to work three more years to pay off her home.

“I grew up a single mom and bought the house on my own, and wanted to show myself and my kids,” the former employee said. “Now, I called my mortgage company this morning and set something up with them, because I don’t want to lose it.”

The company says it plans to demolish the “aging facility” by the end of 2025.

Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

You May Also Like
Netanyahu coalition threatened by conscription standoff with religious parties

Netanyahu’s government in danger due to dispute over military service with religious parties

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! A deepening political crisis…
SCOTT JENNINGS: Karine Jean-Pierre's colleagues are all saying the same brutal thing after her Biden backstab... there were warning signs this was coming

Warning signs of Karine Jean-Pierre’s betrayal of Biden were evident beforehand, as confirmed by her coworkers.

If there’s anything we know for sure, it is that the two…
Chinese-made solar panels used on American farms puts US power grid at risk: former NSA official

Former NSA official warns that using Chinese-manufactured solar panels on American farms may endanger the US power grid

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! A former analyst who…
Paige DeSorbo Finally Reveals Why Craig Conover Was Told To Leave Amanda Batula And Kyle Cooke’s Wedding: “He Acted Like An Entitled Brat”

Paige DeSorbo Explains Why Craig Conover Was Asked to Leave Amanda Batula and Kyle Cooke’s Wedding: “Described as Acting Entitled”

Paige DeSorbo has disclosed the details of what happened at Amanda Batula…
Kelly Ripa Appalled After Learning How Much Bacteria Can Spread During A “10-Second Kiss” On ‘Live,’ Tells Mark Consuelos, “I’m Gonna Start Timing You”

Kelly Ripa shocked to discover the amount of germs that can be transferred through a 10-second kiss on ‘Live,’ jokes about timing Mark Consuelos.

Kelly Ripa‘s lips are sealed after learning this startling smooch fact —…
Chicago rapper Lil Durk pushes to dismiss murder-for-hire case in attempted Quando Rondo killing, allegedly tied to King Von death

Lil Durk, Chicago rapper, avoids death penalty in murder-for-hire case related to attempted murder of Quando Rondo

CHICAGO (WLS) — Prosecutors said they will not seek the death penalty…
Migrants sent to notorious El Salvador prison must get a chance to challenge their deportation, judge rules

Judge rules migrants deported to infamous El Salvador prison must have opportunity to contest their removal

A federal judge has ruled that the White House must give migrants…
Former First Lady Michelle Obama speaks out after daughter Malia drops last name: 'She's trying to make her way'

Michelle Obama shares her thoughts on daughter Malia’s decision to drop her last name

Former first lady Michelle Obama said she and her husband, Barack, respect…
Video shows delivery driver mistakenly drive onto O'Hare Airport tarmac, Chicago Department of Aviation says

Video displays delivery driver entering O’Hare Airport tarmac by mistake, confirmed by Chicago Department of Aviation

CHICAGO (WLS) — Video released by the Chicago Department of Aviation shows…
ABC7 Chicago Job: Desk Assistant

Employment Opportunity at ABC7 Chicago: Desk Assistant

CHICAGO (WLS) — ABC stations owned by Disney Entertainment excel in delivering…
Luigi Mangione evidence bombshell as his intimate diary entries are revealed

Luigi Mangione’s shocking discovery as his personal journal entries are exposed

The bombshell diary entries of Luigi Mangione have been made public, revealing…
Joe Rogan visibly annoyed as guest exposes a secret he hasn't even told his wife

“Joe Rogan’s Uncomfortable Moment: Guest Reveals Secret He Hasn’t Shared with His Wife”

Joe Rogan wasn’t impressed when a mentalist correctly guessed his PIN code –…