Leprino's exit fits a troubling pattern of businesses fleeing California, where high taxes, burdensome regulations, and utility costs make sustainability challenging—even for established giants. While Leprino retains other non-manufacturing operations in the state, this closure signals a stark choice many businesses are facing: adapt to mounting pressures or relocate for survival.

As of December 27, 2025, critics continue to describe jobs as California's "largest export," a stark commentary on the state's ongoing loss of employment opportunities. This trend is fueled by corporate headquarters relocations, refinery and manufacturing plant closures, policy-driven layoffs, and a steady out-migration of residents seeking better prospects elsewhere. California employers have announced 173,022 job cuts from January to November 2025 alone