7UP distribution center to close

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The Youngstown 7UP distribution center will close its doors Oct. 17.

On Friday, the facility’s 42 employees were informed about the closing and consolidation with three other facilities in Pittsburgh, Mansfield and Twinsburg.

The distribution center, at 1142 N. Meridian Road, has been in operation under a lease since 1985. It is a sales center for 7UP, RC Cola, ginger ale and other products.

“[The employees] are top priority during the transition,” said Chris Barnes, director of corporate communications for Dr Pepper Snapple Group. “We will be offering opportunities to most of our employees to work out of those branches.”

The employees retained are account managers, merchandisers, drivers and others. Some positions within the facility will be eliminated, Barnes said.

“As a part of our effort to continuously improve and serve our customers we have taken a step to eliminate some warehouses we no longer need,” Barnes added. “We will still, obviously, continue to support our customers in that [Youngstown] market.”