PepsiCo is set to close a snacks plant in the US that manufactures the popular PopCorners brand, resulting in job losses for over 200 employees.
The facility located in Liberty, New York, is part of PepsiCo Foods US, confirmed a spokesperson from that division of the food and beverage giant.
A statement elaborated: “This plant has played a vital role in producing our beloved PopCorners brand, but the pace of growth for this product line, combined with the broader industry growth, has made it challenging to maintain the site’s long-term viability.”
Furthermore, they stated, “We deeply appreciate the contributions of our Liberty employees, and this decision does not diminish the value of their hard work and dedication. We have notified our workforce and are collaborating closely with our employees and local community officials to offer supportive transitions.”
According to a WARN notice from PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay snacks unit submitted to the New York State Department of Labor, more details on the expected job losses have emerged.
The Liberty site employs 289 full-time workers, all of whom will be “affected” by the closure, as noted in the report. Initial layoffs will commence on May 21 and will continue for two weeks.
Importantly, the notice indicated that the Liberty plant staff “are not represented by a union and do not have any bumping rights.”
The local authority in Sullivan County, home to the Liberty facility, also issued a statement regarding the closure.
“We are deeply concerned about PepsiCo’s decision to shutter their Liberty food manufacturing facility, which has been an integral part of our community for decades and employs hundreds of locals. This action will have many impacts, which we intend to address with PepsiCo’s assistance in the coming weeks,” the statement read.
They added, “Sullivan County, the Town of Liberty, the Village of Liberty, and partners like the Chamber of Commerce and Partnership for Economic Development will assist the impacted workers in every way possible, including providing essential services to individuals and families, and offering the full support of our Center for Workforce Development to keep our residents locally employed.”
