A major national alcohol distributor is pulling the plug on two North Carolina facilities, a move that will wipe out more than 50 local jobs and extend a months-long streak of corporate restructuring. Workers at the sites learned this week that operations are set to wind down as Republic National Distributing Company, better known as RNDC, reshapes its footprint.
According to The Charlotte Observer, a WARN notice filed on June 2 says RNDC plans to close a Charlotte warehouse and a Raleigh location, cutting 39 jobs in Charlotte by July 31 and 14 in Raleigh. The filing says both facilities are expected to be sold to a third party, and that a new owner may offer some employees jobs. The Observer reports that RNDC did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Part of a broader shake-up
At the end of May RNDC announced that it had completed the sale of multiple markets to Reyes Beverage Group as part of an effort to realign its operations. In a company press release, RNDC said the transaction closed on May 29 and emphasized continuity for associates and supplier partners during the transition. Company leaders say those market sales and other strategic changes are triggering asset sales and a consolidation of its distribution footprint.
National scale of cuts
Industry tracking and public records show that the North Carolina closures represent only a small slice of RNDC's activity this year. The layoff tracker WARNTracker lists Republic National with thousands of affected workers across multiple notices in 2024, based on filings in several states. The reductions in Charlotte and Raleigh line up with the broader consolidation RNDC has been rolling out around the country.
What it means for workers here
The North Carolina WARN filing notes that the sites are expected to be sold and that a buyer may extend offers to some staff, but many positions are still slated to disappear under the current plan. That uncertainty has left warehouse workers and drivers weighing their options as RNDC moves assets and contracts to new owners. The Charlotte Observer reports that the purchaser had not been identified at the time of the filing.
RNDC is a major player in the alcohol distribution world. Forbes lists the company with roughly 13,000 employees and about $10.5 billion in revenue. Its 2025 exit from California triggered significant job losses that were widely reported, including coverage by the San Francisco Chronicle. The North Carolina cuts fall squarely in line with that broader pattern of market exits and asset sales.
WARN rules, resources and next steps
Under the federal WARN Act, covered employers must give workers 60 days' notice before a plant closing or mass layoff. In these situations, state rapid-response teams typically step in with help that can include job search assistance, retraining options and other support services. The U.S. Department of Labor offers guidance, a WARN eLaws advisor and additional resources for workers affected by such notices.
North Carolina employees impacted by the RNDC closures are expected to be able to tap into state workforce services and local Rapid Response programs as the layoffs move forward. As buyers are identified and assets change hands, local retailers, bars and restaurants that rely on RNDC will be watching for any disruption to their supply chains, while affected workers connect with state and federal support triggered by the WARN filings. We will continue to track new filings and any buyer announcements, and will report on how those developments play out on the ground.
