Mass Layoffs Hit Employees + Pizza Chain Closes + MA Schools Among Best In World: Business Week

MASSACHUSETTS — From multiple companies announcing layoffs in Massachusetts, to a national pizza chain closing hundreds of locations, it's been a busy week in Massachusetts business news.

3 companies announce layoffs in Massachusetts this year

Panera Bread, Zipcar, and Thermo Fisher Scientific will lay off some 260 employees after filing Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act notice with the state last week.

The hundreds of layoff notices come as Massachusetts residents and businesses continue to face financial pressures.

Pizza Hut to close hundreds of locations nationwide

Pizza Hut is closing what it terms "underperforming locations" across the country in the first half of this year.

While the business has not shared which stores will close, there are 35 locations in Massachusetts, including ones in Braintree, Dorchester, Fall River, Marlborough, New Bedford, Watertown and Worcester.

See which Massachusetts banks made the list of 100 best in the country

Three banks in Massachusetts are among the 100 best in the country, according to a Forbes report released Wednesday that showed strong performance by smaller regional institutions over big banks.

The three that made the cut are Hingham Institution For Savings (No. 57), Eastern Bankshares (No. 72), and Independent Bank (No. 83).

These universities in Massachusetts are among the best in the world

Eight Massachusetts universities are among the 500 best in the world, according to a recent ranking from Time.

The universities are MIT, Harvard University, Boston University, Tufts University, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Boston College, Northeastern University, and Babson College.

You can find their exact position in the list here.

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More Massachusetts Business News:

• Popular MA Furniture Retailer Files For Bankruptcy After Closing All Stores: Report
• National Food Chain To Lay Off 92 Employees, Close MA Bakery Facility
• $100K Lottery Winner Sold At Milford Store
• Tire Retailer Looking To Open Location In Worcester
• Final Class: Private School In Framingham To Shut Down After Decades
• Chinese Cafe Chain Opens Malden Location
• WPI Receives $13 Million In Anonymous Alumni Gifts For Student Scholarships
• Salem State Landmark $6.37M Donation To Establish New Endowment
• Brand New Healthcare Facility Launching In Malden

Catch Up On Past Business Roundups:

• Discount Designer Stores To Close + Snack Factory To Shutter + Unique Boston Hotel Debuts
• Grocery Stores Expand + Indoor Adventure Park To Open + Longtime Retailer Closing
• Large-scale Research Layoffs + Popular Fitness Chain Grows + Major Cheese Recall
• Major Resort Expansion + Gaming Store Closures + Beloved Pretzel Chain Grows