PepsiCo has announced the closure of its manufacturing facility in Liberty, New York, leading to the layoff of 287 employees. The plant, operational for nearly three decades, produces the popular PopCorners snack. Layoffs are scheduled to begin on May 21, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) filed with the state Department of Labor. The affected employees are not unionized.
In a statement, PepsiCo attributed the decision to challenges in sustaining long-term operations amid shifts in the snack industry. The company expressed appreciation for the contributions of its Liberty employees and stated it is working closely with them and local community officials to provide support during the transition.
This closure follows PepsiCo’s decision in October to shut down four bottling plants across the country, resulting in approximately 400 layoffs. Despite recent economic growth in Sullivan County, with strong private sector job growth reported in 2024, the region still faces challenges, including a poverty rate higher than the national average.
As the community braces for the impact, local officials are committed to supporting affected workers and exploring opportunities to attract new businesses to the area.