CALIFORNIA – Manna Beverages told the California Employment Development Department (EDD) it laid off 638 employees statewide on October 7.
The move comes as the company permanently shuts down its Chino, Anaheim, and West Sacramento facilities and exits the state.
The Louisville-based company made and packed juices, energy drinks, teas and sparkling waters for Monster Energy, Alani Nu, BODYARMOR, and Minute Maid.
Manna said it was underperforming financially and struggling to meet debt payments in a letter to employees included in the state notice.
After seeking buyers in June and receiving two offers, the company said it was “out of time and money.”
West Sacramento Mayor Martha Guerrero said the city received no advance notice of the closure, which is typically required before large-scale layoffs.
According to the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) report, Manna notified the EDD on October 3 of the October 7 layoffs; however, the act requires employers to provide a 60-day notice.
Guerrero said she is looking into the situation “to ensure accountability.”
Other recent plant closures in California
According to the state WARN report, Manna Beverages is laying off 245 employees in Anaheim, 15 in Chino, and 378 across four facilities in West Sacramento.
Manna’s closure follows a string of recent beverage industry shutdowns in California.
In April, Coca-Cola announced it would close its American Canyon bottling plant in Napa County, affecting 135 workers. 21st Amendment Brewery said it will shutter its San Leandro production facility and San Francisco brewpub in November, cutting about 76 jobs.
Coca-Cola pointed to a restructuring of its bottling operations, while 21st Amendment blamed declining sales and rising costs.
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