A well-known Idaho food manufacturer is shutting down one of its production sites, bringing fresh job losses to the state’s food processing sector. The move will impact dozens of workers and marks another example of companies consolidating operations amid changing demand.
Idahoan Foods to close Rupert plant
Idahoan Foods, best known for its instant mashed potato products, plans to permanently close its facility in Rupert. According to a notice sent to the Idaho Department of Labor, the closure will result in 61 layoffs at the plant located on South Oneida Street.
The company said operations at the Rupert site are expected to continue through June 26, 2026, with layoffs beginning no sooner than that date.
Why the plant is closing
In its filing, Idahoan Foods said it made the decision as part of a “production network optimization” tied to long-term demand forecasts and broader business considerations. In simple terms, the company appears to be shifting manufacturing capacity to other locations rather than keeping all plants open.
Food manufacturers across the country have increasingly consolidated plants in recent years to lower costs, improve efficiency, and modernize production networks.
Who is affected
The filing said the Rupert workforce includes 12 salaried employees and 49 hourly workers. Among hourly roles, seven are maintenance technicians and 21 are production operators, while some additional job titles were redacted in the public filing.
Employees were reportedly notified directly in writing. The company also said affected workers may apply for open positions at other Idahoan Foods facilities, though transfers are not guaranteed.
A longtime Idaho brand
Founded in 1960 and headquartered in Idaho Falls, Idahoan Foods has long been associated with Idaho’s potato industry and remains a recognizable grocery brand nationwide.
For Rupert and surrounding communities, the closure means another manufacturing employer scaling back at a time when rural job losses can have an outsized local impact.
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