CALIFORNIA — Leprino Foods, the world’s largest mozzarella maker, notified the California Employment Development Department (EDD) that it will lay off 100 employees effective December 30.

The layoffs come as the company permanently closes its 115-year-old plant in Lemoore.

According to California’s Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) list, the company notified the EDD in October that it would lay off 268 employees effective January 9, 2026.

“This decision is influenced by several factors, including the facility’s age, anticipated capital requirements to make improvements to the facility and add or replace equipment and systems, high operating costs in California, the long-term milk supply outlook, and the increased capacity due to the opening of our Lubbock, Texas, facility,” Leprino Foods told FOX26 News.

Leprino Foods supplies cheese to major pizza chains including Domino’s, Papa John’s, and Pizza Hut, as well as to other restaurants and food manufacturers nationwide.

Lemoore mayor Patricia Matthews said the closure is a shock that no one expected.

The city, located in the Central Valley, has already faced the loss of the Olam tomato processing plant in 2023 and a grain mill.

Other food processing plant closures in California

California has seen a wave of food processing and manufacturing closures this year.

PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay shut down manufacturing at its longtime Rancho Cucamonga facility in June after more than 50 years of operation. 

A WARN notice also shows Swift Beef Company will close its Riverside processing plant in early 2026, resulting in more than 300 layoffs. The company said the closure is part of a strategic move to simplify and optimize its network.

Snack-maker Hearthside Food Solutions closed its Anaheim plant on April 27 amid Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, affecting about 175 workers.

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