On heels of winery job loss, Madera County processing plant plans 2026 closure, layoffs
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- JBT Marel filed a WARN to lay off 57 workers from Sept. 18 through Dec. 31.
- Mission Bell Winery cut about 200 jobs as Constellation ends Gallo boxed-wine contract.
- Officials cite about 300 job losses; workforce board will connect workers to services.
Madera County is losing a second manufacturer just days after learning one of the Valley’s longest running wineries is laying off 200 workers.
JBT Marel, a multi-national food processing corporation headquartered in Chicago, has filed a WARN notice with the state announcing its plans to lay off 57 workers, starting Sept. 18, said Maiknue Vang, executive director of the Workforce Development Board of Madera County.
The WARN notice, or the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification, is a formal, 60-day advance notice required by law for employers before major layoffs, plant closings, or relocations.
Vang said the layoffs will happen in phases and are expected to be completed by Dec. 31.
The workforce development board will connect the laid off workers with services to help them get back on their feet, she said.
“As soon as we know that a company is closing or laying off workers, we can prepare individuals to find new jobs or train for new opportunities,” Vang said.
The layoffs come on the heels of Mission Bell Winery laying off about 200 employees by the end of March.
The winery has been in business for more than a century and was founded by Madera businessman Krikor Arakelian. But its corporate owner, Constellation Brands, is laying off about 200 workers as it winds down a contract with Gallo Winery to produce boxed wine.
Madera County Supervisor David Rogers said he was disappointed to hear that “two significant businesses in Madera County’s 2nd District will be closing their operations.”
“These closures will result in approximately 300 job losses for workers and their families in our community. This is a challenging situation for those directly impacted, and I want to assure them that Madera County is prepared to help during this transition,” Rogers said in a statement.
This story was originally published January 16, 2026 at 12:34 PM.
