BRATTLEBORO, VT (MyKeeneNow) The Vermont Department of Labor has been alerted to upcoming layoffs at C&S Wholesale Grocers, with locations in Keene and Brattleboro, by March.

Rachel Dumeny, a spokesperson for the Vermont Department of Labor, confirmed that fewer than 50 employees will be affected by the layoffs, with assistance available for those losing their jobs. The department assured the public that the layoffs will not take effect for at least 45 days.

C&S, headquartered in Keene, is the largest wholesale grocery supplier in the U.S. It has a long history in the region. Founded in 1918 in Worcester, Massachusetts, by Israel Cohen and Abraham Siegel, the company grew from a modest grocery distributor into the largest wholesale supplier in the United States, employing over 15,000 people and serving more than 7,700 stores nationwide, according to its website. The Brattleboro warehouse, built in 1981, remains C&S’s only Vermont location.

The timing of these layoffs coincides with a broader industry trend toward automation in warehouse operations. C&S, alongside major retailers like Walmart and Target, has been investing in robotics and artificial intelligence to streamline logistics. Rick Cohen, executive chairman and owner of C&S, also leads Symbiotic, a company at the forefront of warehouse automation technology. Symbiotic’s systems, designed to boost efficiency in sorting and shipping, are being deployed across 42 Walmart distribution centers and used by major grocery chains, including C&S itself.

Companies introducing automated solutions emphasize that their systems are intended to complement human workers rather than replace them entirely, a promise that remains under scrutiny as more warehouses adopt these technologies.

The layoffs at C&S also follow the company’s recent interest in acquiring nearly 600 Kroger and Albertsons stores in a $25 billion deal. However, that proposal was derailed by a federal court ruling, which cited concerns about reduced competition and higher prices for consumers.