Cargill Cocoa and Chocolate confirmed to LititzDailyNews.com this morning that it is closing the historic downtown Lititz production facility located on North Broad Street. Employees were informed this morning that over 90 local positions will be eliminated, but a spokesperson confirmed that around 130 jobs will be cut. The plant, referred to locally as the Wilbur Chocolate plant, will cease operations in just over two months.
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Cargill will close the Broad Street plant in January of 2016 in an effort to modernize production, according to a press release received in response to our early-morning inquiry. The company intends to shift production of the Lititz plant to the “more modern and efficient plants in Mount Joy, Lititz (West Lincoln Avenue) and Hazleton plants,” according to the statement.
Cargill leadership in Lititz will also be affected as Cargill will centralize its North American Cocoa and Chocolate leadership, administrative and customer-focused roles to Milwaukee and Minneapolis in January. Previously these functions were based in Lititz and other locations throughout North America.
As a result of these changes, approximately 130 jobs, mostly those working at the plant in Lititz, will be eliminated, effective in January 2016. Approximately 30 other employees will be reassigned or offered relocation options for positions at one of Cargill’s other North American cocoa and chocolate sites.
In August, Cargill acquired ADM’s chocolate business for $440 million.
Cargill’s Milwaukee facility features extensive production and product development capabilities and an expansive, modern office space. Minneapolis is home to Cargill’s corporate headquarters and this move will bring its North American Cocoa and Chocolate business closer to the company’s vast administrative, research and development and marketing resources.
“These are very difficult decisions, especially when they involve people who have done such great work for us over the years,” said Cargill Cocoa and Chocolate North America president, Bryan Wurscher. “We are committed to helping those who are impacted find other employment and assist them with this transition.”
The historic Wilbur Chocolate Candy Americana Museum and Candy Store in Lititz will remain open. Cargill will continue to employ approximately 2,200 employees in its Cocoa and Chocolate and other businesses throughout Pennsylvania.
The announcement comes just one day after National Chocolate Day.
We will be updating this story throughout the day as more information becomes available, so please check back. If you are affected by this layoff, please contact us [email protected] or via our LititzDaily.com Facebook page.
Updated at 9:10 a.m. and 10 a.m.
