Frito-Lay Rancho Cucamonga Snack Plant Shuts Down After 50 Years

A Frito-Lay manufacturing plant in Rancho Cucamonga has stopped production after more than 50 years in operation, and potentially hundreds of workers are now looking for new jobs.

On Monday, a spokesperson for PepsiCo Foods U.S., the parent company of Frito-Lay, confirmed that manufacturing operations at the Rancho Cucamonga facility have ended. 

“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,” a statement reads in part.

The company says it is “committed to supporting those impacted,” and will be providing severance pay to affected employees.

While manufacturing at the plant has ceased and other administrative roles were eliminated, the company says warehouse, distribution and fleet and transportation teams will continue to operate out of the facility.

Several employees who contacted KTLA said hundreds of workers were let go, many of whom were not given the opportunity to transfer to different departments to keep their jobs.

A company spokesperson would not confirm the total number of affected employees, and details about particular severance packages was not disclosed.

The Rancho Cucamonga Frito-Lay plant has been a staple of the city for more than five decades, and employed thousands over the years. It is also the facility that once employed Richard Montañez, who claims to have invented the brand’s beloved Flamin’ Hot Cheetos — although the company disputes that claim.