Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Snack-food giant Frito-Lay is pausing plans for a 250,000 square foot warehouse planned for just off the Chatham exit along Interstate 55.

Ryan McCrady, president and CEO of the Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance, says external factors such as tariffs on aluminum – because PepsiCo is Frito-Lay’s parent company – are the reason. Those external factors, McCrady adds, include a downturn in the salty snacks market fueled by the popularity of weight-loss drugs and a lack of discretionary income.

It’s unclear whether Frito-Lay will renew the project. McCrady says neither he nor the city have been working with that company; it’s Becknell Industrial, which is developing the warehouse for lease to, in this case, Frito-Lay — or another company.

“Right now the developer is just waiting to see what (Frito-Lay) decides to do,” said McCrady, adding Becknell is very happy with the site, very happy with the service they have received from this community and the city of Springfield and Illinois Department of Transportation on that site.”

McCrady says such shifts are not unusual in his line of work, adding, “You never step into the same river twice.”