Major news for fans of the old fashioned, glass bottle-packaged milk and scrumptious ice cream: Oberweis Dairy Inc has issued a layoff for no less than 127 workers at its North Aurora plant as the result of an imminent closure. The company’s roots extend back to 1915, a legacy carried on, till date, by the Oberweis family led by Republican state politician, Jim Oberweis.
Facing their share of economic hurdles, The Illinois-based firm, known for its iconic milk bottles and ice cream stores, opened their books and ultimately filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the Northern District of Illinois. With a debt stacked high at $4 million in total unsecured claims, and their largest debt of over $774,000 owed to a Hudson-based transportation company, the bankruptcy filing was the only reasonable way forward.
“Founded in 1915 by the Aurora dairy farmer Peter Oberweis, the family-run business has become a staple in the dairy industry. Despite hard times, the Oberweis’s commitment to their 1,100-strong workforce is notable.”
Oberweis Dairy proudly stands with a robust workforce of about 1,100 people, including numerous part-time workers who were the beating heart of their stores spread across multiple states. The company operates more than 30 locations in Illinois and has a considerable presence in Missouri, Michigan, and Indiana. While the North Aurora plant closure is a certainty, the fate of the company’s ice cream store locations remains unclear.
However, amid this tough situation of internal restructuring, the company has shown a ray of hope. A recent court filing has requested the continued payment of wages and benefits. This undoubtedly provides a sliver of optimism for current employees wondering what the future holds under the Oberweis family’s stewardship.
