These Fresno area companies announced layoffs of more than 1,200 workers in 2026
A dozen companies operating in the Fresno area have announced or initiated layoffs in the first half of 2026 that impact a combined 1,257 employees.
From the world’s largest mozzarella cheese manufacturer to a bus company that transports Fresno Unified School District special needs students, the layoffs impact workers across industries in Fresno, Kings, Tulare and Madera counties.
These job cuts are in addition to about 450 positions that Fresno Unified plans to eliminate in the upcoming fiscal year budget due to financial constraints.
Here are the companies that have filed WARN Act notices as of early June, according to the California Employment Development Department.
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.
Food industry layoffs
Leprino Foods announced in late December that it was shuttering one of its Kings County-based plants, resulting in the loss of about 300 jobs. About 268 workers were laid off in January, and another 100 will be laid off by Dec. 30. The two Leprino facilities in Lemoore processed approximately 14 million pounds of milk and produce an average of 1.5 million pounds of mozzarella cheese and related products per day. The company said the closure was in part due to expanded capacity at its Texas-based facility that opened in 2021.
Constellation Brands, Inc., owner of Madera County’s Mission Bell Winery, announced the layoffs of 212 workers in early February after it ended a contract with Gallo Winery to produce boxed-wine. Founded in 1919 by farmer and entrepreneur Krikor Arakelian, Mission Bell Winery had been a mainstay in the San Joaquin Valley’s wine industry.
JBT Marel Corporation, a multinational food processing corporation headquartered in Chicago, announced in January that it was laying off 57 workers as part of the closure of its Madera County-based manufacturing facility. Some of its operations, such as its testing lab, will be moving to Florida, while other operations will shift to Brazil, according to a report by FOX26. The layoffs are effective Sept. 18.
Foods Co. on Shaw Avenue in Fresno announced its closure in February. The 49 impacted employees were given the chance to transfer to another store, according to a company spokesperson. The closure was part of a larger strategy by Foods Co. owner Kroger Inc., which is in the process of closing 60 underperforming stores nationwide.
FreshKO Produce Services LLC, a produce distribution company, laid off 58 workers at its Fresno County-based facility in March. A spokesperson for the brand’s owner, C&S Wholesale Grocers, LLC, said in a statement that the company does not comment on questions concerning structure changes.
Transportation & education
First Student Inc., an Ohio-based provider of general and special education student transportation, will lay off 170 employees in Fresno County effective July 1. The layoffs come after Fresno Unified opted not to renew its contract with First Student. In April 2025, the board approved a deal with Zūm Services Inc. to provide transportation services.
“First Student is grateful for the opportunity to have served the students at Fresno Unified School District. It has been an honor to support the district, its students, and the broader community, and we extend our best wishes moving forward,” a company spokesperson said in a statement to The Bee.
Centria Autism, a Michigan-based healthcare provider for autistic children, will let go of 48 employees in Fresno County effective July 31, after discontinuing its in-home Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy services in California. Centria’s Fresno office is not closing, however, a company spokesperson said.
Transdev, a French transit company, will lay off 126 of its Visalia-based employees effective June 30. Transdev drivers provide transportation services for Visalia Transit Systems and SEKI Bus Operations in Sequoia National Park, according to The Sun Gazette. The Business Journal reported that Transdev workers, represented by Teamsters Local 517, went on strike for six weeks in July 2023 while negotiating a new contract. Company and union officials couldn’t be immediately reached for comment.
ProYouth, a Visalia-based nonprofit, has permanently laid off 81 employees effective June 5. ProYouth offers homework assistance, tutoring, and other after-school activities for free at schools throughout Tulare and Kings counties. The cuts will affect employees assigned to Visalia Unified School District and come “amid programmatic and funding changes” that impact the organization’s elementary and middle school programs.
Other Fresno area layoffs
Here’s a full list of the dozen companies that have temporary and permanent layoffs and closures scheduled in 2026 across Fresno, Kings, Madera and Tulare counties.
This story was originally published June 9, 2026 at 7:00 AM.
