Employees work last shift at Diageo's Crown Royal bottling plant in Amherstburg, Ont.

There were hugs, tears and frustration outside the Diageo Crown Royal bottling facility in Amherstburg, Ont., as workers left the plant for the final time Wednesday afternoon.

Dean Lennox spent 23 years at the facility. He accused Diageo of wrecking the community.

"Every family here, retirees, generations. I had my nephew here as a student, and it's all gone. It's disgusting corporate greed," he said.

After decades of operation, the company said last summer that the facility — said to be the southwestern Ontario town's biggest employer — would be shutting down in February.

Family members of some of the employees showed up outside the plant Wednesday to support their loved ones. Kayla Butler's father worked there for about a decade, and she is also a former employee herself.

"My dad's in his 50s so watching him have to start over after being given such great opportunities to provide for us, it's really really challenging," she said.

Her message to the company?

"Thanks for nothing," she said.

Larry Renaud worked at the facility for 40 years before retiring.

"It's terrible. Terrible for the town. Terrible for the people that worked here," he said.

He showed up outside the plant for his daughter, who has worked there for more than 26 years. He says she's devastated and facing finding employment in her 50s.

"She's losing her job. No benefits, no pension," he said.

According to Unifor, there were more than 200 unionized employees at the plant when the closure announcement was made in August.

The union spoke out on Wednesday, criticizing the company for closing two days sooner than expected, though workers will still be paid for the remaining days.