Smart & Final Laying Off More Than 200 Workers In Riverside County

RIVERSIDE, CA — Last summer, hundreds of Teamster Local 630 members rallied outside the Commerce headquarters of Chedraui USA, the parent company of Smart & Final, in response to the company’s alleged decision to close unionized warehouses.

The grocery chain was reportedly planning to close two Smart & Final warehouses, one in Commerce and the other in Riverside.

According to the union, Chedraui gave workers at the two locations the option to reapply for employment at reduced pay at a Rancho Cucamonga warehouse.

Now, Smart & Final Riverside's location at 2360 Cottonwood Avenue is permanently laying off 217 workers. According to union representative Christian Castro, the facility is shuttering.

According to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification filed with the state on Feb. 18, the layoff effective date is April 21. California's WARN Act requires employers to give notice before a mass layoff, plant closure, or relocation. Employers must notify employees and both state and local representatives.

The company did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

Chedraui is a publicly traded company that operates Mexican grocery and department stores, as well as chains in the U.S. In 2022, Bodega Latina acquired Smart & Final stores from Apollo Global Management. After the acquisition, Bodega Latina changed its corporate name to Chedraui USA.