PepsiCo has announced that it will shut down a Hudson Valley manufacturing facility that makes the PopCorners snack — resulting in nearly 300 people losing their jobs.
The decision to close the Liberty, NY, manufacturing facility marks the end of an era for a plant that has been a significant employer in the region for almost three decades.
A PepsiCo spokesperson told the Albany Times Union that the facility will shut down due to what the company described as challenges in sustaining long-term operations amid shifts in the snack industry.
According to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) filed with the state Department of Labor, the layoffs will begin on May 21 and take place over a two-week period.
The affected employees are not unionized, according to the filing.
In a statement to the press, PepsiCo acknowledged the plant’s contributions but cited broader industry trends and slowing growth in the product line as reasons for the closure.
“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,” PepsiCo 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.”
The company said that it has “notified our workforce” and that it was “working closely with our employees and local community officials to provide a supportive transition.”
The Liberty facility has longstanding ties to the community, initially operating under Ideal Snacks when it was founded in 1997.
In 2003, the plant expanded — reflecting its early success. However, in 2017, just before the company was sold to BFY, Inc., approximately 200 employees were laid off, prompting a lawsuit from two former workers.
In 2019, PepsiCo, the $209 billion multinational food and beverage company known for brands such as Pepsi, Lay’s, Gatorade and Quaker, acquired the Liberty plant as well as another facility in nearby Middletown as part of its purchase of BFY Brands.
The Middletown facility also experienced significant job reductions last year when the company cut a third of its workforce, citing economic factors.
The news of the closure has generated concern among local officials, who emphasized the plant’s role as a key employer in the area.
In a joint statement, Sullivan County Legislature Chair Nadia Rajsz, Liberty Town Supervisor Frank DeMayo and Village of Liberty Mayor Joan Stoddard expressed their disappointment over PepsiCo’s decision — describing the facility as “an integral part of our community for decades.”
Local officials and economic development groups are now working to mitigate the impact of the closure.
The county, town, and village governments have announced plans to collaborate with PepsiCo, the Chamber of Commerce and the Sullivan County Partnership for Economic Development to assist displaced workers.
Despite the setback, Sullivan County has seen recent economic growth.
Last year, the county reported the strongest private sector job growth in the Hudson Valley, along with a slight decline in unemployment.
However, challenges remain as 14.8% of the county’s residents lived in poverty in 2023, a rate higher than the national average of 12.5%, according to US Census data.
Sullivan County Legislator Louie Alvarez voiced concerns about the impact on Liberty’s Hispanic community, highlighting the economic strain the closure could cause for many families.
“This is going to hit us very hard,” Alvarez said in an interview with WJFF Radio Catskill.
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