2025 is behind us now, but for many of the 1,200+ PepsiCo employees who were laid off last year, the trauma of losing their jobs is still fresh. Last year, PepsiCo carried out a series of major manufacturing closures across the United States, resulting in more than 1,200 job losses and signaling a significant shift in the company’s snack production strategy.
The closures primarily affected facilities operated by Frito-Lay (PepsiCo’s snack division) and impacted workers in California, New York, and Florida.
June 2025: Rancho Cucamonga, California; ~432 jobs lost
One of the most high-profile closures occurred in Rancho Cucamonga, California, where PepsiCo shut down manufacturing operations at a Frito-Lay plant that had been operating for more than five decades. While distribution and warehouse functions remained active at the site, the loss of manufacturing jobs marked a major blow to the local workforce and highlighted the company’s pullback from high-cost production regions.
May-June 2025: Liberty, New York; 287 jobs lost
Starting in May 2025, PepsiCo confirmed the closure of its PopCorners manufacturing facility in Liberty, New York, eliminating 287 jobs. The shutdown was disclosed through a WARN notice and affected the entire workforce at the plant. The facility had been dedicated to producing the popular popped corn snack, but slowing growth in certain snack categories prompted the company to consolidate operations elsewhere.
November 2025: Orlando, Florida; ~500 jobs lost
Last fall, PepsiCo announced plans to close its Frito-Lay manufacturing plant and warehouse in Orlando, Florida. 454 employees were laid off immediately when operations ceased, and another 46 warehouse employees will be laid off by May 2026.
The shutdown further expanded the scope of layoffs tied to PepsiCo’s restructuring efforts and added to growing concerns about job stability in food manufacturing hubs.
Why PepsiCo Is Cutting Jobs
PepsiCo has cited weaker snack demand in North America, rising operating costs, and the need to optimize its manufacturing footprint as key drivers behind the closures. As consumer preferences shift toward healthier options, the company is consolidating production into fewer, more efficient facilities.
A sign of times to come?
Together, the closures underscore the broader challenges facing U.S. food manufacturers in 2025. For workers and communities, the layoffs represent more than corporate restructuring—they reflect a rapidly changing food economy where even industry giants like PepsiCo are scaling back long-standing operations.
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