US-based Ruiz Foods is shedding staff at a manufacturing facility in California to better match projected demand.

In a statement to Just Food, the frozen Mexican food maker said it will cut around 175 positions at the plant in the Dinuba, which employs around 1,400 people.

Affected employees were notified on 2 September. The cuts are scheduled to take effect on 4 November.

Ruiz Foods president and CEO Kimberli Carroll, who was promoted to the roles in 2024, said in a statement: “This difficult decision impacts valued members of our team and is necessary to better align production capacity with anticipated customer demand.”

The facility will also move to a Monday-to-Friday operating pattern from the same day, which the company said will better match “production needs” and align with the “operating schedules at other Ruiz Foods manufacturing facilities”.

The El Monterey brand-owner emphasised the facility “remains a critical part” of its manufacturing network, adding that “planned capital investments” will continue to support the site’s long-term role.

Eligible employees will be able to apply for open positions at other Ruiz Foods facilities.

The job cuts follow the group's decision roughly two years ago to close its Tulare facility, which had operated since 2004 as an extension of the Dinuba site.

The company also shifted its headquarters from Dinuba to Frisco in Texas in 2024.

Ruiz Foods manufactures frozen burritos, taquitos, enchiladas, chimichangas, and breakfast items under its flagship El Monterey brand, alongside the Tornados snacking line.