Major Alcohol Distributor to Lay Off More Than 300 Employees Amid Industry Shakeup

One of the nation’s largest alcohol distributors is planning hundreds of layoffs across multiple markets as the company continues exploring potential asset sales and market exits across the country.

According to Worker Adjustment And Retraining Act notices filed last week, reported by BevNet, Republic National Distributing Company plans to cut 320 jobs in Washington and South Dakota, adding to nearly 150 layoffs previously disclosed in Oregon and larger workforce reductions announced in Texas earlier this spring.

The layoffs come about a month after RNDC filed conditional WARN notices affecting nearly 2,800 employees across multiple states following an 11-market agreement with Reyes Beverage Group.

These latest filings arrive as RNDC pursues what it described as “various strategic alternatives,” including potential sale transactions involving certain markets and operations.

In Washington, the company plans to close four facilities, affecting 166 employees in Auburn, 30 in Spokane, 28 in Seattle, 15 in Everett and 28 remote workers. Another 53 employees are affected in South Dakota, including workers in Sioux Falls and Rapid City.

RNDC said affected employees are expected to be terminated on or within 14 days of July 17.

“The company has been exploring various strategic alternatives, including potential sale transactions involving certain of the company’s markets and operations,” the Washington WARN filing stated, according to local reporting by KIRO 7 News Seattle.

The layoffs are part of a broader restructuring effort that could significantly reshape alcohol distribution in several U.S. markets.

Last month, Columbia Distributing entered into a non-binding letter of intent to acquire certain wine and spirits distribution rights from RNDC in Oregon and Washington, along with an asset arrangement in Alaska. Additional reports indicate operations in South Dakota, North Dakota and Nebraska could be sold to Quality Brands.

Columbia Distributing vice president of external affairs and communications Steve Gibbs told Brewbound last week that the company “respects the RNDC teammates” and intends to prioritize them for opportunities moving forward.

A spokesperson for Reyes Beverage Group previously said its WARN notices did not reflect future staffing plans and that the company expects to welcome many new employees.

RNDC’s restructuring efforts have accelerated in recent months. In April, the company disclosed planned layoffs in Texas markets including Austin, Corpus Christi, Grand Prairie, Houston and Schertz. The Grand Prairie and Houston filings alone impacted more than 1,200 workers.

The company has not publicly detailed the full scope of its long-term plans, but the filings suggest one of the biggest shakeups in alcohol distribution in years may still be unfolding.