Layoffs and plant closures are continuing to hit some of America’s biggest food and beverage manufacturers in 2026 as companies respond to weaker consumer demand, rising costs, and increased automation.
From snack food giants to meat processors, several major brands have announced hundreds — and in some cases thousands — of job cuts so far this year.
PepsiCo closures impact hundreds
PepsiCo has faced some of the largest manufacturing layoffs in the industry within the past year.
In late 2025, the company confirmed the closure of a longtime Frito-Lay manufacturing facility in Orlando, Florida, affecting 454 workers after nearly 60 years of operation. An additional Orlando warehouse closure scheduled for May 2026 eliminates dozens more jobs.
The company says the moves are part of a broader restructuring effort aimed at improving efficiency and adapting to changing consumer demand.
Tyson Foods layoffs devastate Nebraska town
Tyson Foods announced one of the year’s most significant food manufacturing layoffs when it closed its Lexington, Nebraska beef processing plant on Jan. 20, 2026. The shutdown eliminated roughly 3,200 jobs in a town of about 10,000 residents, making it one of the largest single food industry layoffs so far this year.
The company also cut about 1,700 positions at its Amarillo, Texas beef facility as part of a wider restructuring effort tied to historically low U.S. cattle supplies and rising operating costs.
More food giants announce cuts
Other major food and beverage companies announcing layoffs or restructuring measures in 2026 include Kraft Heinz, General Mills, Hormel Foods, Heineken, Archer-Daniels-Midland, and Beyond Meat.
Industry analysts say many companies are reducing headcounts while investing more heavily in automation and facility consolidation as profit pressures continue reshaping the food manufacturing sector.
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