Alcohol distributor plans to lay off 267 in WA

An alcohol distributor disclosed it could pull out of Washington, affecting 267 workers.

Republic National Distributing Co. filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification on May 18, saying that it expects a third party to purchase its facilities in Seattle, Auburn, Everett and Spokane.

The Texas-based company, which operates in 39 states, said the facilities' workers are at risk of losing their jobs, although some employees may stay with the company or be hired by the buyer, according to the notice.

Most of the employees, 166, work at the Auburn facility. The company expects to terminate employees starting July 17.

The notice comes weeks after news broke that the distributor planned to close facilities across the U.S. as part of a restructuring plan, potentially laying off thousands.

According to the Portland Business Journal, Republic National Distributing Co. announced a nonbinding letter of intent to sell certain distribution rights in Washington and Oregon to Columbia Distributing - another beverage distributor with primary hubs in Kent and Canby, Ore.

Around the same time, Reyes Beverage Group, one of the nation's largest beer distributors, announced it would purchase Republic National Distributing Co. operations in nearly a dozen other states.

Republic National Distributing Co. did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.

This story was originally published May 27, 2026 at 4:54 PM.