A sportswear distribution center that’s operated for decades in Alabama will be closing part of its operations later this month, leaving a little under a hundred Alabamians out of work.
Russell Brands LLC, founded as Russell Manufacturing Company in Alexander City in 1902, has operated as part of clothing brand Fruit of the Loom since the early 2000’s.
The brand is the self-proclaimed “pioneer, inventor, and creator of the sweatshirt.” According to their website, in 1926, “founder Ben Russell’s son, Benny, came to his dad with a new idea for an all-cotton practice football jersey replacing the itchy, chafing wool uniforms worn at that time,” which the factory began producing in 1930.
Though the company eventually expanded into manufacturing sportswear across the Southern U.S. — as well as in Latin America and Scotland — some of their biggest forays into sportswear have ended, such as their decision to no longer craft team uniforms in 2017.
The WARN notice, as documented on the Alabama Department of Commerce site, was filed on Aug. 1, with the closure of the company’s distribution operations in its hometown of Alexander City going into effect on September 29.
Though the Alabama Department of Commerce site lists the WARN notice’s initial report date was Aug. 1, a letter Fruit of the Loom executives hand-delivered to the mayor of Alexander City detailing the closure is dated July 31.
“Union Underwear, Inc. dba Fruit of the Loom hereby notifies you that it will be moving the apparel distribution business out of Alexander City to other company locations by September 29, 2025, resulting in the permanent loss of jobs at its Russell Brands, LLC distribution center at the Alexander City campus … . The Spalding distribution business at the Alexander City campus will remain,” the letter states.
The WARN act, a federal law passed in 1988, requires companies to notify workers in writing before mass layoffs. Specifically, companies with over 100 employees are required to provide a 60-day notice of significant layoffs or plant closings to allow workers to properly accommodate for the loss of work.
Neither Russell Brands nor Fruit of the Loom responded to requests for comment, leaving the situation behind the consolidation — why the distribution jobs for Russell Brands are being scrapped at the Alexander City distribution campus and what opportunities exist for employees affected by the layoffs — unclear.
Sarah Clifton covers business for the Montgomery Advertiser. You can reach her at [email protected] or follow her on X @sarahgclifton. To support her work, please subscribe to the Montgomery Advertiser.
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