“We are truly grateful for all the support over the last five decades from our Rancho Cucamonga manufacturing team as well as the local community,” PepsiCo Foods U.S.’s statement says.

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A Frito-Lay plant in Southern California is shuttering manufacturing operations after five decades, potentially affecting hundreds of jobs.
A statement from PepsiCo Foods U.S., emailed to USA TODAY on June 11, confirmed the “shutdown of manufacturing operations” at Frito-Lay’s Rancho Cucamonga site. Although the plant will cease manufacturing operations, its warehouse, distribution, fleet and transportation teams will continue to operate at this location, according to the food, beverage and snack corporation.
“We are truly grateful for all the support over the last five decades from our Rancho Cucamonga manufacturing team as well as the local community,” PepsiCo Foods U.S.’s statement reads. “We are committed to supporting those impacted through this transition and we are offering pay and benefits to impacted employees.”
According to Frito-Lay, it has “more than 30 highly advanced manufacturing plants across the country.”
How many Frito-Lay Rancho Cucamonga plant employees may be laid off?
PepsiCo did not disclose how many employees would be affected by the shutdown of the manufacturing plant. It is also unclear when the possible layoffs will occur, as the PepsiCo facility is not in California’s Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) database as of June 11. The WARN Act requires employers to give 60 days’ notice before a mass layoff, plant closure or relocation.
Employees at the plant told KTLA that they were let go, with some not being allowed to transfer to different departments to possibly keep their jobs.
The Frito-Lay Rancho Cucamonga facility also once employed Richard Montañez, an American businessman who took credit for inventing Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, although the snack brand and PepsiCo have disputed his claims.
Jonathan Limehouse covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at JLimehouse@gannett.com.