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PepsiCo has made the "difficult decision" to close its research and development site in Barrington, Illinois – a move that will reportedly see the company lay off 78 employees. The remaining 212 individuals employed at the site will be distributed to the company's other locations. Barrington is home to the beverage giant's research and development facilities for its Quaker Oats and Gatorade brands. A spokesperson for the company said: "A vast majority of the roles will be moving to our three key hubs: Chicago’s Old Post Office, Plano, Texas, and Valhalla, New York. There are a few roles that will not be relocated. For these impacted colleagues, we are offering a generous severance package, outplacement benefits and mental health resources." The expectation is for the site to be fully closed in June. Earlier this year, the company announced plans to invest $260 million into the expansion of its DeKalb County PepsiCo Beverages North America manufacturing facility.