One of California’s longtime food processing facilities is shutting down next month, bringing significant layoffs to the Central Valley. The closure will impact hundreds of workers and marks another shift in the region’s historic fruit-canning industry. Food giant begins shutdown of historic Central Valley plant Del Monte Foods is shutting down its fruit cannery in Modesto, California. The move will result in thousands [...]
Tennessee’s oldest restaurant closes after 119 years in Nashville
One of Nashville’s most historic dining institutions has closed its doors after more than a century in business. Varallo’s, widely recognized as Tennessee’s oldest restaurant, has shut down after serving customers in downtown Nashville for more than 100 years. A unique start Varallo’s began with an unexpected pivot. Founder Frank Varallo Sr., an Italian immigrant who came to Nashville to pursue a career as a violinist, [...]
Massive Nestlé layoffs: California among first states hit as cuts begin
California is emerging as one of the first clear casualties in sweeping layoffs from Nestlé, with newly filed data revealing exactly where jobs are being lost—and how many workers are impacted. The layoffs come amid Nestle’s decision to cut 16,000 jobs worldwide. Inland Empire facility hit with job cuts According to state filings, Nestlé is laying off 88 employees at its distribution center in Mira Loma (Jurupa Valley), [...]
California’s food and beverage industry is shedding jobs — and the scale is hard to ignore
California, long considered the heart of America’s food and wine economy, is facing a growing wave of layoffs across the food, beverage, and alcohol industries. From mid-2025 into early 2026, thousands of workers have been impacted as companies restructure, exit the state, or automate operations. Mass layoffs as major distributor exits (June–September 2025) The biggest disruption came from Republic National Distributing [...]
Is Smucker regretting its $5.6B Hostess acquisition? Sales slump raises questions
The maker of Twinkies and other iconic snack cakes is facing growing financial pressure after declining sales and large write-downs tied to its Hostess business. The J.M. Smucker Company, which owns the Hostess brand, has reported significant losses tied to the snack division, raising questions about the long-term performance of the once-popular treats. Sales slump for iconic snack brand Hostess products such as [...]
Historic family-owned New York restaurant closes after nearly 120 years following owner’s death
One of New York City’s oldest Italian restaurants has closed its doors after serving generations of theatergoers and celebrities. The historic Manhattan restaurant ended a run that lasted nearly 120 years. Restaurant Row landmark shuts down Barbetta, a historic Italian restaurant located on Manhattan’s famed Restaurant Row, closed in late February 2026 after nearly 120 years in business. The restaurant had long been a [...]
