The final chapter has closed for one of Southern California’s most recognizable snack food facilities. PepsiCo has completed operations at its longtime Frito-Lay site in Rancho Cucamonga, ending decades of activity at a location closely tied to the company’s history and eliminating 248 jobs in the process.
The closure marks the end of operations at a facility that had been part of the Inland Empire’s manufacturing landscape since 1970 and is widely associated with the origins of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos.
A phased shutdown over two years
The closure unfolded in stages rather than all at once. In 2025, PepsiCo ended manufacturing operations at the Rancho Cucamonga plant, citing changing business needs, but continued using the site for distribution, warehousing and transportation.
The next phase came in February 2026, when the company filed a WARN notice announcing that all remaining operations at the facility would cease. PepsiCo said the shutdown would affect 248 employees and that distribution activities would move to a new facility elsewhere in the local community to better serve customers…