ClosurePlanned

Pepsi plans to close its Knoxville bottling plant, affecting 112 workers

Employees were notified October 19 and have a paid notice period through January 1, 2027, WVLT reports.

Location: Knoxville, TN
Key date: Paid notice through January 1, 2027
Reported: Announced October 19, 2026
As of: October 22, 2026

Illustrative graphic reading Pepsi: Knoxville plant closure planned — Illustrative graphic, not a photograph of this event

Pepsi plans to close its bottling plant in Knoxville, Tennessee, affecting 112 workers, according to WVLT's October 19 report based on a notice supplied by the company.

Employees were notified October 19. WVLT's updated report says a paid notice period runs through January 1, 2027, with pay, benefits and transition resources. This concerns a single plant, not a broader Pepsi shutdown.

What is confirmed

112 workers are affected, per the company-provided notice reported by WVLT.
Employees were notified October 19, 2026.
A paid notice period with pay, benefits and transition resources runs through January 1, 2027.

Dates and scope

The paid notice period does not necessarily mean all employees keep working on site until January 1.
An exact last production date has not been confirmed.
No cause has been verified.

Sources

WVLT 8Pepsi to close Knoxville bottling plant

Corrections and updates

Updated to reflect WVLT's revised description of the notice period. Updated as of October 22, 2026.