The announced closure of the Pepsi-Cola bottling facility in Huron will have no effect on Pepsi operations in Mitchell, said a company spokeswoman for Wis-Pak Inc.
Wis-Pak announced recently that it is closing the Huron production facility, effective May 17.
Wis-Pak, of Watertown, Wis., is a majority owner of WP Beverages, which purchased Pepsi-Cola of Huron from the Nordby family in early 2009.
The closure will idle about 10 workers at the Huron plant, which is one of eight Wis-Pak sites across the central United States.
The Huron plant has been producing Hogwash, a juice drink beverage which accounts for about 1 percent of the company's production output. Keeping the operation was no longer profitable, said John Uttech, Wis-Pak senior vice president of supply operations. Huron's production will be moved to another plant.
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Wis-Pak is a majority shareholder in Pepsi Cola of Mitchell, which is an independently owned Pepsi-Cola franchisee. Mitchell's distribution franchise will continue being supplied by Wis-Pak production facilities in Mankato, Minn., and Norfolk, Neb.
In addition to Mitchell, WP Beverages has franchise distribution facilities in Chamberlain, Madison, Wis., Rockford, Ill., and Hermansville, Mich.
