Leprino Foods to Close World's Largest Mozzarella Plant in Tracy

Leprino Foods, the leading global producer of mozzarella cheese, revealed plans to close its Tracy, California facility by the end of 2025, a move that marks a significant shift in the cheese manufacturing industry. The plant, which has been a cornerstone of the pizza cheese supply chain for nearly fifty years, will be decommissioned starting in early 2025.

The decision to close the plant was primarily driven by the age and increasing complexity of the facility, which no longer supports the company's modern technical requirements or sustainability goals. The Tracy site had become economically challenging to retrofit, outweighing the benefits of continued operation.

This closure will impact approximately 550 employees, with Leprino Foods committed to offering support, including severance packages and relocation opportunities to other sites. The phased closure will significantly affect the Central Valley's industrial sector and necessitate a reorganization of milk procurement routes for local producers.

Despite the closure, Leprino Foods maintains a strong presence in the global market, with nine other manufacturing facilities across the United States and operations in the United Kingdom and Brazil. The company plans to optimize its remaining facilities to absorb the production capacity lost from the Tracy plant.

Local civic leaders, including Tracy Mayor Nancy Young, have expressed concern over the economic impact of losing a major employer. The city and Leprino Foods are considering future uses for the industrial site, while the broader dairy community evaluates potential effects on mozzarella pricing and distribution.