Blue Diamond Growers to Shut Down Sacramento Almond Processing Plant

The 100-year-old agricultural cooperative will lay off 49 employees as it shifts operations to other facilities.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 6:10pm

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A high-end, photorealistic studio still-life photograph featuring a stack of premium almond flour bags, a glass jar of whole almonds, and a metal scoop, conceptually representing the core products and materials of the almond processing industry.As Blue Diamond Growers consolidates its almond processing operations, the closure of its historic Sacramento facility signals a strategic shift in the company's manufacturing footprint.Today in Sacramento

Blue Diamond Growers, the world's largest almond processing company, has announced plans to permanently close its manufacturing plant in Sacramento, California. The company filed a WARN notice stating that it will lay off 49 employees when the facility shuts down on June 12, 2026. Blue Diamond cited the high cost and inefficiency of operating in the older Sacramento buildings as the reason for the closure, and said it will shift most of its almond processing to plants in Turlock and Salida.

Why it matters

Blue Diamond Growers has been a major employer and economic driver in the Sacramento region for over a century. The closure of its manufacturing facility will impact dozens of local jobs, though the company plans to maintain its corporate headquarters in the city. The move is part of a broader operational shift by Blue Diamond to streamline its manufacturing and enhance efficiency across its almond business.

The details

According to the WARN notice, Blue Diamond Growers will permanently close its facility at 1802 C Street in Sacramento. The layoffs will affect 49 employees. The company first announced plans to shut down the Sacramento plant and move operations to other facilities in June 2025. Blue Diamond CEO Kai Bockmann cited the high costs and inefficiencies of operating in the older Sacramento buildings as the reason for the closure. The transition began in late 2025, with about 10% of employees departing and a gradual shutdown over 18-24 months. Approximately 600 workers are expected to be impacted overall, though Blue Diamond said it will provide retention incentives, severance, outplacement benefits, and relocation opportunities.

  • Blue Diamond Growers filed the WARN notice on April 13, 2026.
  • The Sacramento plant is scheduled to permanently close on June 12, 2026.
  • The company first announced plans to shut down the Sacramento facility in June 2025.
  • The transition began in late 2025, with about 10% of employees departing and a gradual shutdown over 18-24 months.

The players

Blue Diamond Growers

A more than 100-year-old agricultural cooperative representing close to 3,000 almond farmers in California. Blue Diamond is the world's largest almond processing company.

Kai Bockmann

The President and CEO of Blue Diamond Growers.

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What they’re saying

“Streamlining our manufacturing plants is the right business move to further strengthen our market-leading position and bring increased value to our grower members.”

— Kai Bockmann, President and CEO, Blue Diamond Growers

What’s next

Blue Diamond Growers said its Sacramento site could attract future investment and redevelopment after the manufacturing plant closure. The company will keep its corporate headquarters in Sacramento.

The takeaway

The closure of Blue Diamond's historic Sacramento manufacturing plant is a significant loss for the local economy, but the company's decision to streamline operations and shift production to other facilities is a strategic move to enhance efficiency and competitiveness in the global almond market.