The shutdown will affect the Detroit location at 12499 Evergreen Rd., resulting in 255 permanent layoffs, as indicated in the WARN notice. Employees will remain on payroll and retain benefits through April 21, 2025.

With its headquarters in Detroit, Harvest Sherwood employs about 1,500 people across various states. All operations are ceasing, as confirmed by a company spokesperson. Employees were notified of the closure via mail or email, and the company plans to focus on liquidating assets, closing facilities, and settling financial obligations.

Founded in 1969 as Regal Packing Co. by Alex Karp and Earl Ishbia, the company changed its name to Sherwood Food Distributors in 1987. Over the years, it grew to become a significant player in the meat and food distribution industry. The 2017 merger with Harvest Food Distributors, a family-run company from California, resulted in the formation of Harvest Sherwood, with Detroit serving as the headquarters.

The company distributes food products ranging from meats to bakery items and services over 6,000 customers nationwide, including retailers, wholesalers, institutional accounts, and cruise lines. Its distribution centers are located in Detroit, Atlanta, Cleveland, Miami, and Orlando, and the company ships over 20 million pounds of food each week using a fleet of more than 250 trucks.

In addition to the Detroit closures, a facility in Portland, Oregon—operating as Western Boxed Meat—will lay off 96 employees. This distributor served regions including Alaska, California, Idaho, Washington, and Guam.

Harvest Sherwood cited “rising costs and a diminished market for its products” as the reasons for the shutdown. The company had been seeking funding to avoid or postpone the closure, but ultimately found that continuing operations was financially unworkable.