The country’s second-largest alcohol wholesaler is laying off 1,756 employees in California as it prepares to shut down its entire business in the state, according to reports Thursday citing government filings.
Republic National Distributing Co., which distributed more than 2,500 alcohol brands in California, announced in June that it would cease operations there on Sept. 2.
On Thursday, it filed Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notices with California authorities, reporting layoffs in eight locations, according to The San Francisco Chronicle.
Those eliminated positions include roles in sales, human resources and business analysis, and include jobs that range from warehouse driver to vice president of sales. Some of the jobs were union-represented, according to letters filed by Republic National.
Republic National is headquartered in Texas.
Its CEO, Bob Hendrickson, cited the shutdown on “rising operational costs, industry head winds, and supplier changes.”
The company had recently lost several of the nation’s highest-profile alcohol brands, including Tito’s, High Noon, Cutwater Spirits and Jack Daniel’s, among others, The Chronicle reported.
Those producers have left since the beginning of the year and joined Reyes Beverage Group, which has historically specialized in beer distribution.
Others have left since the exit became official.
The company announced on June 26 the expansion of its long-standing partnership with Silver Oak, a well-known and much-respected family-owned winery.
It said in a release that it would now represent the Silver Oak portfolio in New York and Pennsylvania.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.