Modesto-based E. & J. Gallo Winery, the country's largest winery by sales volume, is permanently shuttering its in-house distributor after nearly a century and outsourcing California operations to a Texas company, resulting in hundreds of layoffs across the state, including in the East Bay.
Longtime local distributor Gallo Sales Co. Inc., formed in 1933 by the winery's founders Ernest and Julio Gallo, will close its facilities around the state in March, a representative of the family-owned winery said Wednesday. According to mass layoff notices filed with the state, it plans to cut 93 employees at the 68,000-square-foot warehouse where it operates in Hayward at 30825 Wiegman Road. Total layoffs will impact 355 workers across seven sites around California. Those laid off in Hayward include accountants, sales managers, and director and senior roles.
The Gallo winery itself owns the facility in Hayward, a 68,000-square-foot, two-level building constructed in 1996, according to PropertyShark. It has supported corporate roles and served as Gallo Sales' headquarters. The company did not say what it would do with the facility.151 employees at 2700 South Eastern Ave., Commerce;25 employees at 1679 Enterprise Blvd.
“RNDC has been a great distributor for Gallo brands nationally, and we look forward to expanding our relationship with them as we transition our chain business in California," said Ted Seburn, Gallo's president of sales, in aThe company declined to disclose financials, sales volumes or distribution statistics, but news reports have sized up Gallo as one of the world's leading wineries and...