Ferrero to Expand L. 342 Facility in Bloomington, Ill. to Create $75 Million Chocolate Factory
Representing manufacturing, production, maintenance and sanitation workers in the baking, confectionery, tobacco and grain milling industries.
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01 Dec Ferrero to Expand L. 342 Facility in Bloomington, Ill. to Create $75 Million Chocolate Factory

Posted at 16:02h in BCTGM-Made, Local Union News by

In Bloomington, Ill., BCTGM Local 342 members have proudly produced some of America’s favorite chocolate candies for 63 years.

Union members at the plant negotiated their first collective bargaining agreement in 1957 when they produced Beich’s Candy. In 1984, Nestlรฉ acquired the facility and Local 342 members began producing the company’s iconic Nestlรฉ Crunch bar, Nestlรฉ Toll House Morsels and other brands owned by Nestlรฉ.

Now, Local 342 members will be making chocolate for the second largest candy-maker in the world – Ferraro. In 2018, Ferrero bought the Nestlรฉ U.S. confectionary business. On November 20, the company announced that Bloomington will become its first chocolate manufacturing center in the United States.

Ferrero North America, part of the Italian candy company Ferrero Group, will invest $75 million to expand the existing production facility in Bloomington where Local 342 members are employed.

The new chocolate manufacturing center will add 70,000 square feet to the existing 226,000-square-foot facility, and Local 342 members will produce chocolate for Crunch, 100 Grand, SnoCaps, Raisinets, Goobers, Ferrero Rocher and other Ferrero brands made in North America.

  • Mitch Bauman, Teresa Evans, Nancy Banister
  • Neva Hudson, Jackie Burton
  • Connie Corey, Alvis Martin

Bloomington will be the company’s first chocolate manufacturing plant outside of Europe and only one of three worldwide.

“We are all very proud that Ferrero is investing in our plant and in our members for the future. This is not only good for Local 342, but also for our community.”

– Local 342 President Mike Johnson

The company says it will begin construction by spring, and the expansion is expected to create jobs. Nearly 200 Local 342 members are employed at the plant.

Women at the Paul F. Beich Candy Co. factory pack Whiz Bars into boxes for shipment throughout the country. At the time, female employees earned one cent for every 24 candy bars they wrapped and packed in a box, like the ones seen here.
PHOTO CREDIT: MCLEAN COUNTY MUSEUM OF HISTORY

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