PepsiCo shuts down Frito-Lay manufacturing site after five decades
Frito-Lay ends production at long-standing California plant amid restructuring, while launching new Mountain Dew flavors.
USA – PepsiCo has ceased manufacturing operations at its Frito-Lay processing plant in Rancho Cucamonga, Southern California, ending over five decades of production at the facility.
The company confirmed the shutdown on June 11, 2025, while noting that warehouse, distribution, and transportation functions will continue at the site.
The Rancho Cucamonga plant, which opened in 1970, has been a significant employer in the region and played a notable role in snack food production, including being linked to the creation of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos.
PepsiCo expressed gratitude for the support from its manufacturing team and the local community over the years.
“We are committed to supporting those impacted through this transition and are offering pay and benefits to affected employees,” the company stated.
However, PepsiCo has not disclosed the exact number of job losses resulting from the closure. Reports indicate that some employees have already been laid off, with severance packages reportedly including 10 weeks’ pay.
This closure is part of a broader pattern of restructuring within PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay division.
Earlier in 2025, the company shut down a Frito-Lay plant in Liberty, New York, leading to 287 layoffs, and reduced staff at a Middletown, New York facility last year.
PepsiCo Foods North America, which includes Frito-Lay and Quaker Foods, reported a 2% decline in net revenue to $6.21 billion in the first quarter of 2025, representing about 34.7% of PepsiCo’s total net revenue.
PepsiCo executives have indicated plans to prioritize “disciplined commercial initiatives” in North America, focusing on optimizing supply chains, increasing logistics efficiencies, and tightly managing operational expenses.
Mountain Dew launches new flavors
Concurrently, PepsiCo’s Mountain Dew brand is set to launch a new Dragon Fruit flavor exclusively at Walmart starting June 15, 2025.
The tropical-flavored beverage combines citrus punch with dragon fruit’s sweetness and will be available in 20-ounce bottles and 12-packs of 12-ounce cans.
Additionally, Mountain Dew is bringing back its popular Summer Freeze flavor, which blends the classic Mountain Dew taste with nostalgic red, white, and blue freeze pops.
Available in both Regular and Zero Sugar versions, Summer Freeze will also hit shelves on June 15.
Mountain Dew, originally launched in 1948 and acquired by Pepsi-Cola in 1964, continues to innovate as part of PepsiCo’s beverage portfolio amid operational changes in its snack division.
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