Niagara Bottling Closes Ocala Plant, Cuts 57 Jobs
The company plans to permanently shut its Ocala water bottling facility, eliminating 57 remaining positions after recent layoffs.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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Niagara Bottling plans to permanently close its water bottling plant at 2445 NW 42nd Street in Ocala, eliminating 57 positions. The company cited organizational restructuring in a WARN letter submitted October 31.
Why it matters
The closure follows Niagara's acquisition of the former Silver Springs Bottled Water Company and layoffs affecting 85 employees at the same facility in October 2025. Residents of Ocala lose a major local employer as the company consolidates its operations.
The WARN filing covers 57 remaining positions, including production operators, forklift drivers, maintenance technicians and the plant director, after 85 layoffs in October 2025. Niagara paid approximately $25.7 million for the facility in September 2025, and it is unclear how the closure will affect that investment.
The players
Niagara Bottling
A California-headquartered bottled water company that acquired the former Silver Springs Bottled Water Company in 2025 and operates several Florida production facilities.
The details
Niagara Bottling intends to shut the entire Ocala operation, with employee terminations scheduled to take effect December 31. The remaining roles span production, warehouse, quality control, maintenance and management positions. The company maintains other Florida production facilities in Groveland and Jacksonville.
Timeline
September 2025: Niagara purchases the facility for approximately $25.7 million.
October 2025: Layoffs affecting 85 employees are announced.
October 31: A WARN letter is submitted citing organizational restructuring.
December 31: Employee terminations take effect.
End of 2026: The plant is expected to close permanently.
Market Landscape
Niagara's consolidation of the Ocala plant comes after its 2025 acquisition of the former Silver Springs Bottled Water Company, a move that expanded its Florida footprint. The company's retention of Groveland and Jacksonville facilities suggests a deliberate reshaping of its regional production network.
The 57 remaining workers at the Ocala plant face termination on December 31, losing income and benefits in the coming months. Residents who buy Niagara bottled water may see changes in product availability as production shifts to the company's other Florida facilities.
The takeaway
Plant closures often arrive in stages, starting with acquisitions and layoffs before a final WARN notice. Workers and local residents can track these filings through state labor authorities to plan ahead.
What happens next
Employee terminations at the Ocala plant are scheduled to take effect December 31, 2026, with the facility expected to close permanently by the end of 2026.
Further reading
For more business closures across the region, see Openings & Closings in Ocala.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Ocala Post (Ocala News).
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