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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Coca-Cola will permanently close its plant in Dunedin later this year and lay off nearly 200 workers, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) notice posted to the Florida Commerce website .
The company announced the plant on San Christopher Drive is expected to close on May 31, according to the WARN notice. Layoffs are expected to begin on April 5.
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The notice says the 198 workers who will be affected were informed of the layoffs on Feb. 5. Some of the employees will stay employed for a short time after the closure date to “assist with administrative tasks related to the closing of the facility.”
In a statement to WFLA.com, a Coca-Cola spokesperson said all volume for the plant will be transferred to a local, third-party co-packer.
“As announced in early 2020, the Coca-Cola Company will close the Dunedin Plant in Dunedin, Florida and transfer all volume to a local third-party co-packer, Peace River Citrus,” the spokesperson said. “While these decisions are never made lightly, we believe Peace River has the right capabilities to support production of our brands and will put us in the best position for sustainable long-term growth. The transition will be completed by July 2024.”