Filing confirms Groupe Beneteau to make over 230 layoffs in Michigan
French boating giant Groupe Beneteau is set to lay off 239 workers in Cadillac, Michigan, in August, according to a state labour alert issued on Monday (22 June 2026).
The news comes two weeks after the group confirmed it is to halt production at its Cadillac facility and divest the Four Winns, Glastron and Scarab Jet brands.
The boatbuilder, which has been synonymous with the town of Cadillac for over five decades, plans to sell the site along with the Four Winns, Glastron and Scarab Jet brands. The process of identifying potential buyers is underway.
The facility is operated by Rec Boat Holdings (RBH), Groupe Beneteau’s US subsidiary. The filing, issued through the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, confirms 239 jobs will be impacted, at seven addresses across Cadillac, including 515 Sixth Ave., 701 Sixth St., 609 W. 13th St., 905 and 925 Frisbie St., 410 South St. and 1552 Miltner St.
The group has cited market conditions linked to the Middle East conflict as the reason for the closure. The company says a slowdown in order intake began after the conflict and was already evident when quarterly revenue figures were published on 4 May 2026, with a cumulative $34.2m operating loss for the brands in 2024 and 2025.
Rec Boat Holdings’ layoff notice takes effect on 15 August 2026. Employees were reportedly notified last Monday.
Local news outlet WPBN/WGTU reports that the plant has seen a nearly 30 per cent reduction in orders this year compared to 2025. Production at the Cadillac facility has declined significantly in recent years, from 2,313 boats in 2022 to 474 boats in 2025.
