Fox River Mills in Osage to End Production by Fall, Over 100 to Lose Jobs

A long-time north Iowa manufacturer of socks will be closing later this year.

According to the Iowa Workforce Development’s Workforce Adjustment and Retraining Notification website, Fox River Mills in Osage is planning to close on October 10th, impacting 105 workers. The company filed the notification on Tuesday (07.29). 

Fox River Mills has been making socks since 1900 and at one point employed as many as 150 people at their Osage facility.

In 2016, the company was sold to a private equity firm, a move that marked a significant shift in its business trajectory.

The company was known for its annual “Fox River Sock Sale”, which would bring thousands of customers to the Mitchell County Fairgrounds in Osage.

The closure of Fox River Mills comes on the heels of Winnebago’s announcement earlier this month that the RV manufacturer would be closing its satellite operations in Charles City and Waverly.

A pending September 8th closure will put 77 people out of work in Waverly, while 18 in Charles City will be laid off, with the remaining 26 employees there out of jobs when the plant fully closes December 12th.

It was also announced in mid-July that Tree House Foods, Incorporated will close its Bay Valley Foods manufacturing plant  in New Hampton on September 12th, with nearly 50 people losing their jobs.