Frozen food manufacturers have been adjusting staffing and production schedules as demand patterns shift across packaged meals and snacks. That trend reached California’s Central Valley this month, where Ruiz Foods, the maker of El Monterey products, moved to eliminate nearly 200 positions at its Dinuba plant. The cuts are one of the larger recent food-manufacturing layoffs disclosed in the state.
Ruiz Foods confirmed 176 layoffs tied to its Dinuba operation Ruiz Foods, formally Ruiz Food Products, Inc., is cutting 176 jobs tied to its Dinuba facility at 501 South Alta Avenue, according to a California WARN filing dated September 4, 2026, and company details reported by The Business Journal. The filing lists the action as a permanent layoff, with a WARN effective date of November 4, 2026. California WARN trackers that mirror state filings also identify Dinuba in Tulare County as the only location named in the notice.
The company said affected employees were notified on September 2, according to The Business Journal’s reporting. That report said six employees were laid off between September 2 and September 9, while 170 more separations are scheduled for November 4 under a WARN compl...