SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — On Wednesday, February 19, the Frito Lay Pepsico plant in Liberty announced it would close operations, laying off its 287 employees after over two decades of employment. County officials and Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Ashley Leavitt said they had no advance communication about the planned closure. 

According to a letter sent to the county by Brian Blackham, of PepsiCo’s human resource department, “all 287 positions will be laid off in a 14-day period beginning on May 21.” It also states, “The affected employees are not represented by any union and do not have any bumping rights.”

The River Reporter contacted Blackham for comment but did not receive a response by press time.

Officials respond

“We are deeply concerned,” Sullivan County Legislature Chair Nadia Rajsz, Town of Liberty Supervisor Frank DeMayo and Village of Liberty Mayor Joan Stoddard wrote in a joint statement about the closure. 

The officials said the manufacturing facility “employs hundreds of locals” and said, “This action will have many impacts, which we intend to sort out with PepsiCo’s assistance in the coming weeks.” 

“Sullivan County, the Town of Liberty, the Village of Liberty, and partners like the chamber of commerce and Sullivan County 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,” the statement also said.

Leavitt first received the news by email from PepsiCo’s human resources manager Mathew Carrero, who also serves as a chamber board member. 

The email read, “Today, PepsiCo Foods U.S. announced the closure of our facility in Liberty, NY. This plant has played a vital role in producing our beloved PopCorners brand, but the pace of growth for this product line paired with the broader industry pace of growth has made it difficult to sustain the site’s long-term viability. We deeply appreciate the contributions of our Liberty employees, and this decision does not diminish the value of their hard work and dedication. We have notified our workforce and will be closing with our employees and local community officials to provide a supportive transition.” 

Other than the email from Carrero, Leavitt said, there had been no prior communication about or reason for the closure. 

More jobs lost

The plant had job roles that ranged from technicians, mechanics, packers and processing operators to schedulers and human resources staff. 

A Facebook commenter on a Sullivan County community group said, “First the prison now this.” Sullivan County Correctional Facility, a maximum-security prison in Fallsburg, NY closed in late 2024 as part of statewide prison closures, causing an outcry among elected officials over the displacement of hundreds of jobs. Read reports about the prison closure at bit.ly/3Qw3nP2.

Another commenter wrote, “Is their abatement over?,” referring to a relationship between Frito Lay and the Sullivan County Industrial Development Agency (IDA). The IDA “promotes economic development in Sullivan County, New York,” and “offers financial incentives to businesses, including tax abatements, loans, and leases,” according to its website. 

The IDA worked with Ideal Snacks Corp, which eventually became Frito Lay starting in 2002, but in 2023 Frito Lay ended all agreements with the IDA, according to the project paperwork on the IDA’s website. 

Frito Lay PepsiCo also announced layoffs in May 2024 of 30 percent of its staff at the Middletown location in Orange County. 

However, according to news reports, Frito Lay PepsiCo appears to be expanding in other locations, moving ahead with new warehouses in Nantucket; Connecticut; Bay County, MI; and Mobile, AL.