Frito-Lay Shutters Manufacturing Operations at Southern California Plant After 55 Years

The snack hub became well-known for a controversy over the origin of the company’s popular Flamin' Hot Cheetos.

Flamin' Hot Cheetos are shown in Chicago on April 19, 2024. Scott Olson/Getty Images

Snack food giant Frito-Lay has shut down manufacturing operations after half a century at its Rancho Cucamonga plant, the parent company PepsiCo Foods U.S. confirmed June 11.

“We are truly grateful for all the support over the last five decades from our Rancho Cucamonga manufacturing team as well as the local community,” the company stated in an email to The Epoch Times.

Warehouse, distribution, fleet, and transportation teams will continue to operate at the location, according to the company.

“We are committed to supporting those impacted through this transition and we are offering pay and benefits to impacted employees,” the company stated.

PepsiCo did not provide details about how many employees would be affected.

According to the California Employment Development Department, Frito-Lay employs between 500 and 999 workers at the plant.

The plant, located about 1.5 hours east of Los Angeles, became famous for once employing Richard Montañez, a former janitor who claims he invented Flamin’ Hot Cheetos.

The creation of the popular spicy snack covered in red dust has become controversial.

For years, Montañez, who worked his way up from janitor to marketing executive at the plant, has said that he came up with the idea for the hot Cheetos product on his own.

Frito-Lay disputed the story, however, calling it an “urban legend” and telling the Los Angeles Times that “none of our records show that Richard was involved in any capacity in the Flamin’ Hot test market.”

Montañez, who became vice president of multicultural sales and marketing at PepsiCo, is now retired and sued the company last August. He stated in the lawsuit that the company’s statements made to the Los Angeles Times had cost him major opportunities, including speaking and consultancy engagements, and a documentary about his life.

The lawsuit wrapped up last month after a federal judge dismissed it. In his order, U.S. District Judge John Holcomb said that Montañez’s claims of defamation, fraud, and other law violations lacked “factual support,” according to Courthouse News.

“In sum, because Montañez has not demonstrated that he is likely to succeed on any of his claims for relief, defendants’ motion to strike is granted,” the judge wrote.

The Rancho Cucamonga Frito-Lay plant first opened in 1970 and had been in operation for 55 years.

The location on Archibald Avenue served as a Southern California hub for the company’s snack products.

Rancho Cucamonga, which has served as a manufacturing center for multiple companies, has been focusing on attracting new office development, retail, and advanced manufacturing.