Food and beverage manufacturers across the U.S. have continued to reshape plant networks as companies respond to shifting demand and operating costs. In Ohio, Refresco is moving ahead with the permanent closure of its manufacturing facility in Carlisle, a decision tied to more than 60 lost jobs. The company, one of the world’s largest independent beverage manufacturers, said the move followed a review of its production footprint.
Refresco confirms a permanent shutdown and 63 affected jobs
Refresco is permanently closing its Carlisle, Ohio, production facility, with 63 positions affected, according to a WARN notice filed with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and details reported by NewsBreak. The filing said manufacturing operations were expected to cease on or about June 24, 2026, while warehousing activity was scheduled to end on or about July 11, 2026. After those dates, the site was set to close permanently.
The company also said some workers would not necessarily be separated from the business entirely. NewsBreak reported that about seven employees were offered transfers to other Refresco locations, reducing the number of workers facing a full job loss if those transfers are accepted. Refresco also said affected employees would be offered severance packages, on-site job fairs, and resume assistance as part of the transition.
Refresco is a major contract manufacturer and bottler for retailers and beverage brands. On its corporate site, the company says it operates 80-plus production locations globally and more than 35 beverage facilities across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The closure therefore affects a single Ohio operation within a much larger North American manufacturing network, rather than representing a full exit from the U.S. market.
What the Carlisle closure means locally in southwest Ohio
The confirmed impact is centered on Carlisle in southwest Ohio, where the affected facility has been identified in public reporting as a Refresco manufacturing plant. NewsBreak said the job cuts are tied specifically to that Carlisle operation, and the state filing sets out the production and warehouse wind-down dates. The notice indicates this is a permanent closure, not a temporary layoff or short-term pause in operations.
What has not been publicly detailed is the full breakdown of which job categories are being eliminated at the site. The company also has not released a comprehensive public list of individual employees affected, nor has it publicly outlined whether any additional Ohio support measures beyond severance, job fairs, and resume help will be offered. Those gaps are common in WARN-related announcements, but they leave some local details unresolved.
For Carlisle and the surrounding area, the closure removes a manufacturing employer from the local economy at a time when food and beverage production remains an important part of regional industrial employment. Refresco’s annual reporting has previously identified Carlisle, Ohio, as part of its North American footprint, confirming the plant’s place in the company’s broader operating system. The immediate local effect, however, is the loss of 63 jobs tied to one facility.
Company cites costs and changing customer needs behind the move
Refresco said in its WARN filing, as summarized by NewsBreak, that the Carlisle shutdown followed an extensive review of its manufacturing network. The company cited high operating costs and changing customer needs as the reasons for discontinuing production at the plant. Those explanations align with broader pressures affecting packaged food and beverage manufacturers, which have been adjusting capacity, plant locations, and logistics strategies.
The company’s broader corporate materials show a business still investing in North America even as it closes selected facilities. Refresco said on its website that it completed the acquisition of SunOpta’s supply chain solutions business on May 1, 2026, expanding its North American capabilities in plant-based, nutritional, and aseptic beverages. That suggests the Carlisle closure is part of a network optimization strategy rather than a retreat from beverage manufacturing.
For Ohio residents and customers, the main immediate effect is on employment rather than product availability. Refresco manufactures beverages for a wide range of retailer and brand partners, and the company still maintains a large North American production base. Based on the company’s public statements and the state notice, the next concrete milestone is the completion of the Carlisle shutdown after warehouse operations end in July.