Two Twin Cities Companies Announce Mass Layoffs, Affecting 235 Workers

TWIN CITIES, MN — More than 230 workers across the Twin Cities will lose their jobs after two unrelated employers, Illume Candles, LLC in Maple Grove and BLST Operating Company, LLC in Eden Prairie, filed WARN notices this week.

Both notices were acknowledged by the State Rapid Response Team, which will oversee transition services for impacted workers.

Illume Candles Closure in Maple Grove

Illume Candles, LLC informed the Minnesota State Rapid Response Team (SRRT) of the permanent closure of its facility at 10501 Elm Creek Blvd. in Maple Grove. About 132 employees will be laid off in phases beginning Dec. 1, 2025, with the final phase expected by June 1, 2026.

According to the WARN letter, layoffs will impact workers in a wide range of departments, including sales and customer support, creative, marketing, supply chain, finance, human resources, IT/technology, research and development, distribution, quality, operations, maintenance, and manufacturing.

Employees are not represented by a union.

BLST Operating Company Layoffs in Eden Prairie

BLST Operating Company, LLC, located at 13300 Pioneer Trail in Eden Prairie, told the SRRT it will conduct a reorganization that eliminates positions both at the facility and those reporting into it.

About 103 employees will be permanently laid off beginning Nov. 16, 2025, with the facility remaining open during the WARN period before closing.

The WARN filing shows that the job cuts stretch from entry-level to top executive roles. Impacted positions include accountants, analysts, engineers, credit operations staff, customer care representatives, facilities assistants, managers, directors, and senior leadership, including the company’s CEO, CFO, CIO, SVPs, VPs, and corporate counsel.

Unlike Illume, employees at BLST are not represented by a union.