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 government filings.
Republic National Distributing Co., which distributed more than 2,500 alcohol brands in California, announced in June that it would cease operations in the state on Sept. 2, a move widely interpreted as the latest sign of turmoil in the alcohol industry. On Thursday, it filed Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notices with California authorities, reporting layoffs in eight locations: 104 in Hayward, 226 in Pleasanton, 176 in Los Angeles, 640 in Tustin (Orange County), 238 in San Bernardino, 80 in San Diego, 156 in Morgan Hill and 136 in West Sacramento. The company did not respond to requests for comment.
The eliminated positions include roles in sales, human resources, business analysis and many others, ranging in scope from warehouse driver to vice president of sales. Some of the jobs were union-represented, according to letters filed by Republic National…