221 jobs cut as Cargill Meat Solutions winds down Menomonee Valley beef processing operations by May 31, 2026
Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation will permanently shutter its Menomonee Valley processing facility in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, resulting in the loss of approximately 221 jobs. Employees were formally notified on February 10, 2026, according to filings submitted to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.
The company stated that it will begin winding down operations soon, with production scheduled to halt on or around April 17, 2026, and the plant fully closing by May 31, 2026.
Phased Layoffs Begin in April
Cargill confirmed that employee separations will occur in phases, determined by customer commitments and operational requirements. The first layoffs are expected to take place on April 11, 2026.
All affected employees will receive a minimum of 60 days’ working notice and/or pay. The company added that impacted workers may apply for open roles at other Cargill facilities, including nearby operations such as its Butler, Wisconsin plant where some production may shift.
A Significant Loss for Milwaukee’s Industrial Landscape
“That part of Milwaukee was once a center of meat packing with thousands of jobs at various plants. Cargill’s departure marks the end of an era,” Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson said on social media platform X.