Necco to close Stark Candy plant in Pewaukee - Candy Raisins may be gone forever!!

[PeaceNikki]

<<sniff>> I had no idea that these were regional!



http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/03/03/daily46.html

The New England Confectionery Corp. Inc. has informed state officials of its intent to close its Stark Candy plant in Pewaukee, resulting in the loss of 137 jobs.

The closure of the plant, 700 Hickory St., is slated for May 30, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification letter received by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Wednesday. The plant's major product is the Sweethearts Conversation Hearts popular around Valentine's Day.

William Leva, vice president of operations for Necco, said that the Pewaukee business suffered from a loss of volume. Domestic confectionery companies have been hurt by increased competition from foreign candy producers and rising sugar prices.

An as-yet undetermined number of employees at the Pewaukee plant will be offered jobs at the company's factory in Massachusetts, where the work is being transferred, Leva said. The Pewaukee plant produced Sweethearts Conversation Hearts and chewy candies.

[sybylla]

1. Probably the first step in transferring production to Mexico

They aren't the first confectionery company to do so and probably won't be the last.

[Broca]

2. I have

some rabbits hopping about my yard this winter and they are leaving something that looks very similar. Maybe I can sell their leavings as a knock off product.

[mojowork_n]

3. Boy, that's sad.

I don't have much of a "sweet tooth," so Candy Raisins are one of the very few confectionary treats I still enjoy. (Kind of like Orange Slices, but not as gross, without all that extra sugar.)

Wisconsinites losing jobs makes it even worse.

Thanks for the tip, I guess I'll have to go buy a few bags to stock up.

[dembotoz]

4. someone please tell me again how wonderful our local economy is

I am having a bit of a problem believing it.