White Lake Foods Plans New Operations at Former PepsiCo Plant in Liberty

LIBERTY, N.Y. — The former PepsiCo facility in Liberty has a new owner, and a food company that has been producing private-label products for Hudson Valley Farms plans to begin operations at the site.

PepsiCo has sold the property at 89 Mill Street to 5722 Route 55 LLC. The sale was finalized Aug. 27, according to Marcus Henley, manager of White Lake Foods LLC.

The new owner will lease the property to White Lake Foods, which plans to operate at the facility.

White Lake Foods has produced premium chicken products for retail distribution for Hudson Valley Farms and other businesses since 2020, primarily as a private-label manufacturer.

Hudson Valley Farms previously announced plans to purchase the former PepsiCo property, though Henley said 5722 Route 55 LLC and White Lake Foods are separate legal entities of Hudson Valley Farms. A federal USDA listing for White Lake Foods shows the company’s DBA (Doing Business As) as “HV Farms; Hudson Valley Chicken.”

The Liberty facility was previously operated by PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay division. PepsiCo announced in February 2025 that it would close the plant. PepsiCo’s closure of the facility eliminated nearly 300 jobs and had a significant economic impact on the community.

Packaging operations planned first

White Lake Foods’ plans for the facility are still subject to local, state and federal approvals.

Henley said the company expects to begin with packaging operations, potentially within about 90 days. Other uses, including poultry processing and food manufacturing, would depend on approvals for those activities.

The next step is an application to the Village of Liberty Planning Board for zoning and other local approvals. Henley said he hopes the company will meet with the Planning Board in September or October.

The facility will also need to be registered with state and federal authorities for food manufacturing or poultry processing, depending on the operations ultimately approved.

Up to 250 employees

Henley said White Lake Foods expects the Liberty operation to be fully up and running within 12 to 18 months.

Depending on the company’s eventual operations, employment could reach between 200 and 250 workers within 18 to 24 months.

Henley said White Lake Foods would be interested in hiring former PepsiCo employees who lost their jobs when the Liberty plant closed.

“We will be very excited to meet with former Frito-Lay Snacks PepsiCo employees,” Henley said. He added that the company would be happy to give those workers priority consideration.

Sale price not disclosed

Henley declined to disclose the purchase price for the property. The sale price was not yet available in the public records reviewed for this story.

Henley said White Lake Foods had considered facilities outside the area, including a vacant facility in northern Pennsylvania, before pursuing the Liberty property.

He said he is a Sullivan County resident and has invested in the county.

“I’m very happy that we have this opportunity to grow and provide job opportunities here in Liberty and in Sullivan County,” Henley said.

Image: The former PepsiCo manufacturing plant in Liberty, N.Y. (Patricio Robayo)