Alcohol distributor Republic National to close West Sacramento site in fall, shed 136 jobs
Wholesale alcoholic beverage distributor Republic National Distributing Co., will close its West Sacramento facility in the fall, shedding 136 jobs as it exits the business statewide, according to a WARN notice to the state Employment Development Department.
Republic officials in a letter dated Tuesday, notified West Sacramento officials, local employees and their bargaining units of the impending layoffs at the facility, located at 3620 Industrial Blvd. The layoffs are expected to begin Sept. 2, and continue through Nov. 1, officials said.
“This action is expected to be permanent,” the company wrote in a letter filed with the California Employment Development Department under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act. The WARN Act requires employers to give advance notice of plant closures and mass layoffs.
Of the 136 affected positions, 67 are sales representatives. Others include division and district sales managers, merchandisers, drivers and store leads, according to a company list.
The West Sacramento site is one of 13 “express locations” in Republic’s California network and is its northernmost site. Other locations include the Bay Area, Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange County and the Inland Empire. In all, the company told state officials it expects to shed 1,756 jobs, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Republic National attributed its decision to exit California to “rising operational costs, industry head winds, and supplier changes,” according to CEO Bob Hendrickson.
The Texas-based company has lost several high-profile alcohol brands — including Tito’s, High Noon, Cutwater Spirits and Jack Daniel’s this year — all of which, the Chronicle reported, have shifted distribution to Reyes Beverage Group
Republic officials said all affected employees “have been or will be notified of their employment terminations” at least 60 days before their jobs are scheduled to end.
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