600-Plus Jobs Could Be Slashed As Union County-Based Company Files For Bankruptcy

LINDEN, NJ — More than 600 people could lose their jobs as Linden-based FreshRealm, a fresh foods platform, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this week.

In a WARN notice filed with the New Jersey Department of Labor, the company said it is cutting 637 employees from June 27 to July 27.

Subscribe

Positions to be cut include Inventory Control Associate, Kitchen Associate, Machine Operator I, Team Lead, Sanitation Associate, and Shipping Associate.

On Monday, FreshRealm voluntarily filed for relief under Chapter 11 following "a significant ingredient supply disruption in 2025 that materially impacted the company's operations and financial performance," according to the company.

The company said it entered Chapter 11 to strengthen its financial position, support business stability, maintain operations, and evaluate strategic alternatives.

FreshRealm also said it reached an agreement with Blue Apron to resolve certain contractual and business transition matters, subject to court approval. If approved, Blue Apron would exit its commercial agreement with FreshRealm and transition the related operations to a new structure where the business is expected to continue operating.

Separately, FreshRealm said it will market and pursue a sale of its remaining business and operations through a court-supervised process under Chapter 11.

The company said those steps are intended to address its 2025 challenges while creating what it described as a more focused and sustainable path for customers, suppliers, and employees.

"We have built a business that serves an important need in the fresh food and meal space, and we remain focused on continuing to serve our customers while supporting our employees, suppliers, and partners through this transition," said Michael Lippold, Founder & CEO. "Our agreement with Blue Apron, and the actions we are taking, create a clearer path forward for the business. We continue to believe in the long-term potential of the platform following the Blue Apron transition."

FreshRealm said it secured a commitment for debtor-in-possession financing from its existing lenders to support continued operations during the Chapter 11 process and the contemplated transactions.

The company also said it filed customary first day motions with the court to allow operations to continue without interruption, including production, fulfillment, and delivery of fresh meal products for partners nationwide.

According to the announcement, those motions also seek approval to ensure employees, vendors, and suppliers are paid for goods and services provided after the filing date in the ordinary course of business, where court approval is required.

FreshRealm said it expects normal day-to-day operations to continue during the bankruptcy process and said customers can expect normal operations to continue.

Lippold added, "We are proud of the platform we have built and the role we play in helping our partners bring fresh meals to more people in more places. I want to thank our employees, customers, suppliers, and partners for their continued support as we move through this process and work toward the next phase for FreshRealm."

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.