OHIO — A fixture of North Toledo’s industrial corridor is preparing to go dark. New Horizons Baking Company has officially notified the state of Ohio that it will permanently shutter its manufacturing facility at 1015 New York Ave. on or after March 17, 2026.
The closure marks a significant blow to the local manufacturing sector, resulting in the permanent layoff of 68 employees. For decades, the plant has been a quiet but essential gear in the American food supply chain, producing the English muffins and soft buns found on the menus of major national restaurant brands.
Infrastructure and Strategy Drive the Exit
The decision to close the facility was not sudden but rather the result of a "strategic consolidation" aimed at long-term business efficiency. According to the company’s formal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) filing, the aging infrastructure at the New York Avenue site had become a significant hurdle.
The plant’s physical limitations reportedly prevented the installation of the high-speed, modern equipment necessary for New Horizons to remain competitive in an industry with razor-thin margins.
"Limitations in the infrastructure within the plant prevent it from supporting our legitimate business goals," the company stated in its official notice to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
Impact on the Workforce
The 68 impacted employees include workers in muffin production, wrapping, maintenance, quality assurance, and sanitation. These workers are represented by the United Steelworkers Union (Local 1-377).
Because the plant is closing in its entirety, the company noted that unionized employees do not have "bumping rights." This typical labor provision, which allows senior employees to displace those with less seniority in other company positions, is not applicable here as the entire local operation is being dissolved. This means the layoffs are final for the local crew, many of whom have spent years at the facility.
A Year of Challenges
The closure announcement follows a turbulent period for the facility. In late 2025, federal workplace safety regulators proposed significant penalties against New Horizons following an investigation into safety violations at its Ohio operations. The citations included failures to properly train workers on machine-guarding and safety protocols designed to prevent industrial injuries.
The Future of New Horizons
While the North Toledo plant is winding down, New Horizons Baking Company—a female-led, minority-owned business headquartered in Norwalk—is not exiting the state entirely. The company has shifted focus to more modern operations, including investments in high-speed facilities in other parts of Ohio that began production last year.
For the city of Toledo, the loss of these 68 jobs adds to a growing list of industrial shifts as companies move toward newer, more automated facilities in other regions.
