PepsiCo Closes Chicago Bottling PlantPepsiCo Closes Chicago Bottling Plant

The closure was sudden and will affect 150 workers at the plant.

Kristen Kazarian, Managing Editor

October 29, 2024

1 Min Read
Pepsi bottles
The bottling plant has been in Chicago for more than 60 years.Mario Tama/Staff/Getty Images North America

PepsiCo said it is closing a Chicago bottling plant, which the Teamsters union says will impact 150 workers.

PepsiCo said the decision was difficult but it described the 60-year-old building as a facility with “physical limitations.” The company said it would pay workers for the next 60 days even though they won’t be required to work, AP News reported.

Teamsters Local 727, which represents plant workers, said it was informed of the closure early Monday in an email sent by PepsiCo attorneys. The union said PepsiCo violated federal law, which requires employers to give 60 days’ notice of pending plant closures or mass layoffs at locations with 50 or more employees.

In a statement, John Coli Jr., the secretary-treasurer of Local 727, said the union negotiated a new contract with PepsiCo this summer but wasn’t told about a potential closure. He said the union may take legal action against the company.

PepsiCo said its plans meet “applicable legal requirements” and it will work with the union.

“Our top priority is to support our employees during this transition, and our commitment to serve Chicagoland remains strong,” PepsiCo said in a statement.

About the Author

Kristen Kazarian

Managing Editor

Kristen Kazarian has been a writer and editor for more than three decades. She has worked at several consumer magazines and B2B publications in the fields of food and beverage, packaging, processing, women's interest, local news, health and nutrition, fashion and beauty, automotive, and IT.

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