CHICAGO — Molson Coors Beverage Co. is eliminating about 400 jobs across its Americas business unit, the company announced Monday. 

The Chicago-based company said layoffs will happen by the end of December. The number includes “hundreds of salaried positions that were already open from role prioritization efforts put in place earlier this year, and those who may be granted voluntary severance as part of this restructuring,” the company said. 

Molson Coors brewery in Golden at 12th and Ford streets opened in 1873. It employs approximately 850 employees, according to the company website.

The layoffs will result in an estimated 9% reduction of the company’s salaried workforce across the Americas.

“The restructuring aims to enhance Molson Coors’ ability to reinvest in its business, including its priority brands and must-win initiatives,” the company said in a news release. “As part of the plan, Molson Coors is focused on putting the right level of resources closer to its consumers and customers as it pursues a return to growth, concentrating on both its beer portfolio and its expansion into adjacent categories, such as premium mixers, non-alcohol beverages and energy drinks.”

When the company chose Rahul Goyal as its next CEO in September, he foreshadowed expanding the company’s beverage lineup.

The new CEO said in the announcement last month that he’ll share more of his plans to grow Molson Coors in the coming months.

Goyal held several executive roles, including chief information officer for Molson Coors’ office in the U.K. and chief financial officer for the company’s office in India. He also ran commercial operations at Coors Distributing Co. and helped manage The Yuengling Co., according to Molson Coors.

The company said in its announcement that Goyal has been instrumental in growing Molson Coors’ portfolio by leading its “Beyond Beer” initiative, such as working with Coca-Cola to develop Simply Spiked and Topo Chico Hard Seltzers. He also was part of Molson Coors’ acquisitions of energy drink ZOA and nonalcoholic cocktail brand Naked Life.

“Rahul has delivered meaningful growth in new spaces for the company thanks to his ability to build partnerships that align with the company’s strategic priorities,” said board Vice-Chair Geoff Molson in a news release.

A Molson Coors spokesperson told The Denver Gazette Tuesday no information is available about site-specific plans.

The Denver Gazette contributed to this story.