Besse Forest Products Shutting Down 3 of 4 Facilities

The Wisconsin company blamed the industry downturn for its decision to shut down its mills in early August.

Besse cited market conditions for its decision to shut down three of its four mills in Wisconsin, according to press reports. The filings to shut down were dated Aug. 1 and the company said it would begin laying off nearly 150 workers starting the following day.

“Due to an unprecedented industry downturn, it has recently become clear to the company that the revenues of the company will no longer support its operations,” the company wrote in each of the filings, according to press reports.

Besse is closing its facilities in Mattoon, Goodman and Rice Lake, WI. According to a report on the closings, Mattoon was a sawmill, plywood mill, veneer mill and supplied pallet cut stock. Goodman was a veneer mill, sawmill, plywood mill, export log yard and provided dry kiln and ripping capabilities, and Rice Lake was a veneer mill.

The company’s website still shows one Wisconsin facility remaining open in Ladysmith, in addition to operations in Gladstone and Baraga, MI; Mt. Pleasant, TN.; and a warehouse in Eugene, OR.

Besse was acquired in March by the Hoffman Family of Companies, a private investment firm that is described as owning more than 200 brands and properties around the world.

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