Amy's Kitchen Shakes Up Industry with Shock California Exit

A billion-dollar organic-food powerhouse is pulling back from California manufacturing, shutting down its original Santa Rosa factory and eliminating 260 jobs in a sweeping production shake-up.

The family-owned Amy’s Kitchen, which racks up roughly $1 billion in annual retail sales of its products, plans to wind down the Santa Rosa operation in phases before shifting production to plants in Medford, Oregon, and Pocatello, Idaho.

“This is hard, and it should be hard,” CEO Paul Schiefer said in a statement to SFGATE. “We looked at every alternative before landing here. We have a loyal workforce in Santa Rosa, and we’re incredibly grateful for everything they’ve contributed.”