A nearly 80-year fixture of Berlin, Pennsylvania’s economy is preparing to go dark. The Snyder of Berlin potato chip plant, operating since 1947, will shut down permanently, eliminating 96 jobs and leaving a small Somerset County borough to grapple with the fallout.
Sold less than a year ago, the facility’s closure highlights growing pressures on rural manufacturing as consolidation reshapes the snack food industry. While the Snyder brand will live on elsewhere, Berlin now faces difficult questions about jobs, revenue, and its economic future. Here’s what’s happening as the shutdown unfolds.
From Family Roots to Corporate Ownership
Snyder’s potato chip story began in the early 1920s in Hanover, Pennsylvania, before expanding west with the opening of the Berlin plant in 1947. By 1950, the operation was owned by family members Edith and Clair “Barb” Sterner, anchoring the facility as a multigenerational employer in Somerset County.
Over time, ownership shifted repeatedly as consolidation swept through the food industry. The Berlin plant moved to Pinnacle Foods in 2009, then to Conagra Brands in 2018, followed by Utz Brands in 2019. In April 2024, Our Home Corp. purchased the facility for $18.5 million, alongside a plant in Fitchburg, Massachusetts.
Utz retained the Snyder brand, meaning the chips will remain on store shelves. However, production will now move elsewhere, severing a long-standing connection between the brand and the Berlin community.
A Sudden Closure Announcement
The shutdown came with little warning for workers or local leaders. Our Home Corp., headquartered in Boonton, New Jersey, filed a WARN notice on December 3, 2025, with Pennsylvania’s Department of Labor and Industry, formally announcing the permanent closure of the Berlin facility.
Despite the scale of the impact, the company did not issue a public explanation for its decision. That silence has fueled concern within the borough, where officials are now bracing for immediate financial consequences.
Berlin Borough leaders say the loss of utility payments from the plant, including electricity, water, sewage, and garbage collection, will create a gap in the municipal budget. Addressing that shortfall will require difficult adjustments, adding another layer of strain to a town already facing job losses and economic uncertainty.
Layoffs Stretched Across 2026
Job losses will unfold gradually rather than all at once. According to the WARN notice, most employees will be terminated beginning February 13, 2026, with smaller groups laid off in stages through the remainder of the year.
The final 6 employees will remain on site through December 31, 2026, assisting with shutdown and cleanup operations. These workers include members of United Bakery and Confectionary Workers Local 1718, the union that has long represented employees at the plant.
While staggered layoffs extend paychecks for some, they also prolong uncertainty. Workers are being asked to plan reemployment during winter months and into early 2026, a challenging period for job searches in rural manufacturing regions with limited alternative employers.
Community and Supplier Fallout
Berlin’s population of 2,407 residents magnifies the impact of losing nearly 100 jobs. The Snyder of Berlin facility ranked among the borough’s largest employers, and its closure represents a significant hit to household income and local spending.
The effects extend beyond the plant’s walls. Regional suppliers such as Sterman Masser and Folkland Foods, which provide potatoes and other inputs to snack manufacturers, are expected to see reduced demand as production volumes shift elsewhere.
State Representative Carl Walker Metzgar responded on December 5 by contacting Our Home’s CEO and CFO to explore options for job retention. He is also working with the Governor’s Action Team to coordinate assistance for displaced workers, signaling early efforts to soften the economic blow.
A Broader Industry Pattern
The Berlin closure reflects a wider consolidation trend across Pennsylvania’s snack food and manufacturing sectors. Utz Brands, for instance, reduced its facility count from 16 locations in 2021 to 8 by 2024, concentrating production in larger, more efficient plants.
Similar moves are playing out industry-wide. J&J Snack Foods announced the closure of 3 facilities in November 2025 under its “Project Apollo” transformation strategy. In October 2025, Packaging Corporation of America shuttered plants affecting 168 jobs across Pennsylvania and North Carolina.
For affected workers, support options include 26 weeks of unemployment benefits, potential Trade Adjustment Assistance, and retraining through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. Union members may also access Local 1718 resources, though company severance details remain unconfirmed.
What the Shutdown Means for Berlin
As the Snyder of Berlin plant winds down, the borough faces a complex recovery challenge. Officials are exploring tax incentives, workforce development programs, and strategies to attract new employers, but progress may be slow. Berlin’s median household income of $53,973 and limited infrastructure complicate rapid economic transition.
Beyond the immediate numbers, the closure underscores broader vulnerabilities facing rural manufacturing towns. When production consolidates into fewer, larger facilities, communities built around legacy plants are often left with little warning and few alternatives.
For Berlin, the loss is both economic and symbolic. A factory that operated for nearly 8 decades shaped local identity, employment, and stability. Its closure serves as a stark reminder of how corporate restructuring decisions can ripple through small towns long after the machinery stops.
Sources:
“PA Potato Chip Manufacturing LLC’s Berlin plant to shutter.” Altoona Mirror, December 3, 2025.
“Owner announces Snyder of Berlin plant to close.” Daily American, December 4, 2025.
“About Snyder’s of Hanover.” Snyder’s of Hanover Official Website, accessed December 2025.
“York County Potato Chip Makers Include Snyder’s of Hanover.” York Blog, October 27, 2010.
“Utz Brands Announces Continued Acceleration of Supply Chain Transformation.” Utz Brands Investor Relations, April 17, 2024.
“J&J Snack Foods to close three plants under Project Apollo transformation.” Just-Food, November 18, 2025.