Layoffs Hit Former Stone Brewing Employees As Production Leaves Escondido

ESCONDIDO, CA — Sapporo USA is closing three former Stone Brewing facilities in Escondido and cutting hundreds of jobs as production moves out of the region.

The closures come after Sapporo USA sold Stone Brewing to Firestone Walker Brewing Co. and Duvel Moortgat USA in a deal completed May 15, the Los Angeles Times reported. The new owners plan to move beer production to breweries in Paso Robles and Kansas City, Missouri.

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The deal did not include Sapporo USA's Stone-branded facilities in Escondido, NBC 7 San Diego reported.

Sapporo USA will begin laying off 58 employees Oct. 19, with a total of 220 jobs expected to be eliminated, according to Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification filings submitted to the state.

The company was founded in 1996 in San Marcos and became one of San Diego County's best-known craft breweries. Sapporo USA acquired Stone Brewing in 2022.

The Stone brand will continue under its new ownership, while Sapporo USA winds down its remaining Escondido operations.