Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC), one of the country’s largest alcohol distributors, is shutting down three Ohio facilities and cutting more than 50 jobs across the state. Workers have been told the separations are permanent, with an effective date expected by July 31, 2026.
According to Cleveland.com, RNDC filed Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notices with the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services (ODJFS) outlining the closures. The filings list a Columbus location with three employees and two Cincinnati operations: a remote-employee unit with 44 workers and an office with nine. RNDC said all affected employees and any applicable union representatives have been notified, characterized the layoffs as permanent, and requested state rapid-response assistance for those losing their jobs.
Part of a national sell-off
The Ohio pullback is just one piece of a much larger restructuring for the Dallas-based distributor as it pares down operations and sells off markets across the country. MDM reported that RNDC has issued WARN notices tied to nearly 2,800 employees as a deal with Reyes Beverage Group moves toward closing. Separate filings compiled by labor trackers, including data posted by WARNTracker, show a series of recent notices connected to RNDC sites, with dozens of conditional alerts popping up in multiple states this spring.
Company: Closures tied to market sales
In a company statement described by Cleveland.com, RNDC said it is moving ahead with the Ohio shutdowns “as part of a potential sale of its Ohio markets to a third-party buyer.” The distributor said it is working with prospective buyers and pledged to follow all regulatory requirements and transition rules as any sales move ahead.
Worker protections and next steps
Under federal and Ohio WARN law, covered employers have to give advance notice before plant closings or mass layoffs and coordinate rapid-response services so displaced workers are not left completely in the dark. The Ohio Department of Job & Family Services provides a WARN submission form along with instructions that spell out how notices and re-employment assistance are handled. Guidance from the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services says employers should include details such as union representation, severance, and retraining options when they file.
Why it matters
Industry analysts see the Ohio cuts as part of a broader shakeup in the three-tier distribution system as major suppliers and buyers reshuffle who moves their products. VinePair has tracked Reyes Beverage Group’s purchase of multiple RNDC markets, highlighting how distribution territories are being consolidated under fewer players. Trade coverage from outlets such as The Daily Pour has also noted hundreds of RNDC job cuts stretching from the West Coast to the Midwest this year…