PepsiCo is to close a snacks plant in the US manufacturing the PopCorners brand, with more than 200 employees expected to lose their jobs.
The facility in the town of Liberty in New York is operated by PepsiCo Foods US, a spokesperson for that division of the food and drinks giant said.
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A statement provided to Just Food read: “This plant has played a vital role in producing our beloved PopCorners brand but the pace of growth for this product line, paired with the broader industry pace of growth, has made it difficult to sustain the site’s long-term viability.
“We deeply appreciate the contributions of our Liberty employees, and this decision does not diminish the value of their hard work and dedication. We have notified our workforce and are working closely with our employees and local community officials to provide a supportive transition.”
A WARN notice from PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay snacks unit to the New York State Department of Labor provided more details on the expected job losses.
The Liberty site employs 289 full-time workers and all will be “affected” by the closure, it said. The first round of layoffs will start on 21 May and last two weeks.
It added that the Liberty plant staff “are not represented by a union and do not have any bumping rights”.
The local authority in Sullivan County where the Liberty facility is located also issued a statement on the closure.
“We are deeply concerned about PepsiCo’s decision to shutter their Liberty food manufacturing facility, which has been an integral part of our community for decades and employs hundreds of locals. This action will have many impacts, which we intend to sort out with PepsiCo’s assistance in the coming weeks,” the statement read.
“Sullivan County, the Town of Liberty, the Village of Liberty and partners like the Chamber of Commerce and Partnership for Economic Development will be assisting the impacted workers in every way we can, including by providing needed services to individuals and families, and offering the full support of our Center for Workforce Development in keeping our residents locally employed.”
