UPDATE: This story has been corrected to reflect that the Silver Springs Bottled Water Co. is not permanently shutting down and will operate with a reduced workforce.
The final remaining employees at the former Silver Springs Bottled Water Co. facility in Ocala are scheduled to leave the company in the coming weeks, marking a drastic reduction in operations in the company less than six months after the business was acquired by Niagara.
According to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) filed by Niagara Bottling, LLC with the Florida Department of Commerce, at least three remaining employees at the facility are scheduled to be released by March 1. The filing also shows that one position (assistant controller) is scheduled for release on March 31.
This follows the initial round of 73 layoffs that occurred at the Ocala facility on December 31, 2025.
As the last few employees leave in March, the total number of terminations will reach 85.
Located at 2445 NW 42nd Street in Ocala, Silver Springs Bottled Water Co. was purchased by Niagara Bottling for $25,785,000 on September 3, 2025.
The acquisition brought an end to the independent operation of the Silver Springs Bottled Water Company, which had been owned by the Richmond family since 1991. The former company’s website shows the officers at the time of sale were Kane, Kirk, and Keith Richmond.
Niagara indicated in state filings that the decision to close the plant was made to reduce production and volume at the location.
Established in 1986, Silver Springs Bottled Water Company produced and distributed various water products, including steam-distilled and spring water, for just under 40 years.
Niagara Bottling, the world’s largest family-owned bottled water company, has a significant presence in Florida, with other facilities in Groveland and Jacksonville.
In a statement to Ocala-News.com, Nigara Bottling clarified that the facility will remain open and will operate with a smaller workforce.
Do you have memories of the old company and its products? Share them in a comment or, if you have more to say on the topic, write a letter to the editor.