Frito-Lay will lay off 108 workers at its 'Aiea plant at the end of November and will no longer manufacture its snack products in the Islands.

Frito-Lay said in a news release yesterday that the 'Aiea plant cannot be expanded, so it is switching production to larger facilities on the Mainland.

"While the consolidation is strategic for our business, we recognize the personal impact business decisions such as this one have. This is not an easy decision to make," said Al Carey, president and chief executive officer of Frito-Lay North America.

The company said the 'Aiea location will serve as a temporary distribution center. Frito-Lay said it will retain 123 workers who are employed by its warehouse and sales operations.

Frito-Lay spokesman Jaren Dougherty, who works in the Los Angeles area but was in Honolulu yesterday, said the 'Aiea plant is 24 years old and is profitable, but the company can reduce expenses by switching production to the Mainland.

The 'Aiea plant produces potato chips, corn chips and other snacks under the company's Cheetos, Doritos, Fritos and Funyuns brands.

The company, a division of PepsiCo, said those products will be made at its plants on the Mainland and will be shipped to Hawai'i.

Dougherty said Frito-Lay already ships some of its products into Hawai'i and "quality and freshness won't be impacted."

In addition to the 'Aiea plant, Frito-Lay said it will close its 41-year-old Lubbock, Texas, location, which is one of its oldest manufacturing facilities.

The company said it will offer severance for employees affected, and some workers will be able to qualify for early retirement benefits.

Reach Rick Daysog at rdaysog@honoluluadvertiser.com.