Layoffs expected at C&S Wholesale Grocers in Brattleboro

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. (WCAX) – C&S Wholesale Grocers, A Keene, New Hampshire-based company that is one of the country’s largest food distributors — including a facility in Brattleboro — says layoffs are coming.

It looked like business a usual Monday at C&S Wholesale Grocers in Brattleboro. Trucks were coming and going from the 300,000-square-foot facility. A “now hiring” sign was posted out front, But the company is cutting staff at the Brattleboro location at a minimum.

“Right now, we are looking at less than 50 employees and that would be affected by that — at least based on the information that was shared — and those layoffs wouldn’t occur within the next 45 days,” said Vt. Labor Commissioner Michael Harrington.

C&S supplies food to more than 7,500 supermarkets, military bases, and institutions across the country. At this time, we do not know what jobs are on the chopping block. Harrington says Vermont’s rapid response services have been activated. “Those services include everything from how to access unemployment insurance benefits to what type of supports can we offer for re-employment services,” he said.

They are also partnering with local officials. “We work closely with them to try to bring different tools and different resources,” said Adam Grinold with the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation. He says they have a new AI-driven tool called the Vermont Employment Pathfinder, which will be available to laid-off workers. “Identify skills — it can help map those skills. It can help match those skills to local job opportunities. That and some training and re-skilling programs can really help start that next chapter.”

Harrington says while job cuts are never a good thing, there are more positions right now open across Vermont than there are people looking to fill them. “When that trajectory changes and there are more individuals who are laid off or unemployed than there are jobs, that is when we will see the market become very tight,” he said.

The current unemployment rate in Windham County is 2.7% and officials say companies are hiring. The ultimate goal is to make sure families do not have to leave the area because they can’t find work.

Copyright 2025 WCAX. All rights reserved.