Frito-Lay abruptly closes 2 factories with 719 confirmed layoffs, and this could be just the beginning

The American snack industry has had a rough run in 2025.

Things were already looking tough given Americans’ changing dietary preferences as people seek healthier food options.

But then when you pile on the new SNAP restrictions on junk food…

The impacts of tariffs and inflation on global demand…

Not to mention the overall American economic slowdown…

Things are looking increasingly grim.

So it’s no surprise that the companies who manufacture and sell these snacks are responding by reducing expenses anywhere they can.

When times get tough, batten down the hatches, right?

You’re seeing this across the board. Utz is doing it. Coca-Cola is trimming expenses too.

So it makes sense that Frito-Lay (owned by PepsiCo) is doing the same.

But knowing that it makes sense doesn’t change the fact that it’s still rough on everyone involved.

Frito-Lay recently closed two factories for a total of 719 layoffs:

• Frito-Lay factory in Rancho Cucamonga, California (432 layoffs)
• PopCorners factory in Liberty, New York (287 layoffs)

These factories were pillars of their local communities, and the loss of these good manufacturing jobs will reverberate far beyond this year.

The Rancho Cucamonga plant in particular had been around for over 50 years – and that longevity was likely part of what ultimately caused its closure.

A factory that was built more than 50 years ago was designed without all kinds of labor-saving efficiencies built in (or even space and the appropriate setup to implement them later).

That makes it a prime target for consolidation whenever times get tough.

But again – knowing the cold, hard logic behind these decisions doesn’t make them any easier or less painful, and my heart goes out to all the impacted workers.

I hope their next chapter is kinder and gentler – and ends better – than this one. They deserved better than this.

If you have any words of encouragement or advice to share with these folks, please leave a comment.

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