49°
The food and beverage titan, headquartered in the Westchester County hamlet of Purchase, is closing its food manufacturing facility in the Sullivan County town of Liberty, a company spokesperson confirmed to Daily Voice.
Details on the timeline and the number of affected employees remained unclear as of Wednesday, Feb. 19.
"This plant has played a vital role in producing our beloved PopCorners brand, but the pace of growth for this product line paired with broader industry pace of growth has made it difficult to sustain the site's long-term viability," the company said in a statement.
"We deeply appreciate the contributions of our Liberty employees, and this decision does not diminish the value of their hard work and dedication."
PepsiCo is working with affected employees and local officials to provide "a supportive transition," the company said.
Sullivan County Legislature Chair Nadia Rajsz, Town of Liberty Supervisor Frank DeMayo, and Village of Liberty Mayor Joan Stoddard vowed to assist impacted workers.
“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,” they said in a joint statement.
“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.
“While this news appears devastating at this time, all of us - as a united community - will work hard to meet this challenge and provide a better future.”
PepsiCo, one of the world’s largest food and beverage companies, has long been a significant employer in the region. The company owns major brands such as Frito-Lay, Quaker, Gatorade, and Tropicana, generating more than $70 billion in annual revenue.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Pelham and receive free news updates.
