The J.M. Smucker Company closed its only retail store in Orrville, Ohio, on January 15, 2026, ending 27 years of direct sales to consumers. But rather than simply shuttering the landmark facility, the company transformed the closure into what the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank calls the largest gift in its history. The donation arrives as federal spending cuts slash food assistance programs, leaving millions of Americans without vital nutrition support.
From Retail Showcase to Hunger Relief Hub
Opened in spring 1999 on 32 acres near Routes 57 and 30, the Smucker Store and Café served as more than a shopping destination. The 19,000-square-foot building featured a “Hallway of History” chronicling the company’s evolution from selling apple butter in 1897 to becoming a consumer goods powerhouse with annual revenues approaching $9 billion. Visitors could purchase Jif peanut butter, Folgers coffee, and Milk-Bone dog treats while creating personalized jars with custom photos. The facility stood as a tangible connection between the corporation and its hometown for nearly three decades.
In September 2025, Smucker announced the store would cease operations and urged customers to redeem gift cards before the January deadline. The company donated the entire property—building, pollinator garden, and more than 30 acres of land—to the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. Additionally, Smucker partnered with the Wayne County Community Foundation to establish a fund providing $1 million over five years to support expanded services.
“We have always believed that success as an organization is thriving along with all those who count on our business, and that begins in our backyard here in Northeast Ohio,” said Mark Smucker, chief executive officer and chair of the board. “Our long-time partners at the Foodbank continue to do incredible work to help address food insecurity in our community, and we saw a unique opportunity to extend our support through this donation”.
Strategic Shift Toward Growth Brands
The closure reflects Smucker’s evolving business priorities. The company raised its sales growth target to 3-5% for fiscal 2026, driven primarily by Uncrustables frozen sandwiches. The brand generated $920 million in net sales during fiscal 2025, marking its 11th consecutive year of double-digit growth. Smucker expects Uncrustables to surpass $1 billion in annual revenue by the end of fiscal 2026.
To support this expansion, Smucker invested $1.1 billion in a 900,000-square-foot Alabama manufacturing facility, announced in 2021 and opened in 2024. This third production site joins existing plants in Kentucky and Colorado, more than doubling capacity to meet surging demand. The company’s 2023 acquisition of Hostess Brands for $5.6 billion further shifted focus toward packaged snacks distributed through wholesale channels rather than direct retail.
These strategic moves rendered factory outlet stores obsolete. In May 2025, the company announced plans to close a nearly 70-year-old Hostess plant in Indianapolis by early 2026, describing the decision as “continued optimization” of its manufacturing network.
Crisis Context: Federal Assistance Evaporates
The foodbank donation arrives amid unprecedented cuts to federal nutrition programs. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law on July 4, 2025, reduced Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding by $187 billion through 2034—the largest cut in the program’s history. Approximately 4 million Americans will lose benefits or see substantial reductions.
New work requirements impose eligibility restrictions on previously exempt groups, including veterans, people experiencing homelessness, former foster youth, and adults ages 55 to 64. These requirements are projected to reduce participation by 2.4 million people monthly. Beginning in fiscal year 2027, states will shoulder 75% of SNAP administrative costs, up from the previous 50% split. By 2028, states must also fund portions of benefit payments based on error rates.
“With automated processes, you might reduce fraud, but you will also reduce help for people who really need SNAP,” warned Derek Wu from the University of Virginia. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health researchers noted that SNAP expansions during COVID-19 reduced food insecurity nationally, but those gains disappeared when benefits decreased.
Meeting Wayne County Needs
The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank serves eight counties across northeastern Ohio, including Wayne County, where more than 15,000 residents—roughly 10-15% of the population—face food insecurity. Dan Flowers, foodbank president and CEO, acknowledged that rural areas often receive less attention than urban centers despite significant need.
The organization recently completed a $17.5 million expansion of its Akron campus in February 2024, adding 15,000 square feet including a pantry, coolers, freezers, and support services for mental health and job training. The foodbank identified a “meal gap” requiring distribution of 41 million meals annually to meet demand, up from 29 million previously served.
Katie Carver Reed, vice president of the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, stated that the Smucker property will enhance the organization’s ability to address hunger in Wayne County. The foodbank plans to take possession by March 2026 and is evaluating how best to utilize the space—potentially as a warehouse, direct service location, or combination of functions. The building’s existing kitchen and refrigeration infrastructure can be repurposed for food storage and distribution, reducing renovation costs.
The donation provides critical capacity expansion precisely when federal cuts threaten to reduce food bank supplies by millions of pounds. Nicholas McFarren, director of the Salvation Army Orrville Maiwurm Service Center, which serves approximately 2,500 people annually, believes the dedicated Wayne County location will bring new efficiency to distribution networks. As corporate consolidation eliminates physical stores, the conversion of the Smucker facility demonstrates how strategic philanthropy can transform closing retail sites into essential community infrastructure addressing urgent needs.
Sources:
Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, Facility and land from The J.M. Smucker Co., September 23, 2025
Investing.com, JM Smucker at Barclays Conference: Strategy for Growth, September 2, 2025
News 5 Cleveland (YouTube), J.M. Smucker Company gives Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank largest donation, September 23, 2025
Midstory, Jamming in Orrville: For Over a Century, the J.M. Smucker Company Has Kept Roots in Ohio, January 9, 2025
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, SNAP funding cuts threaten food security, health, August 20, 2025
Pew Research Center, As SNAP Changes Shift Food Assistance Costs, States Face New Choices, January 13, 2026