Blommer Chocolate Company, a nearly century-old Chicago institution, announced Friday the closure of its Fulton River District manufacturing plant, which for decades carried the smell of chocolate throughout the region .
In a statement, Blommer announced it would close the 85-year-old plant at 600 W. Kinzie Ave. and would move its headquarters, along with its research and development operations, to Merchandise Mart to “continue the legacy of Blommer Chicago.” “The new center will provide space for concept testing, processing and ingredient research,
continuous evaluation of applications, depending on the company.
Citing increased operating costs, production reliability issues and the age of the facility, Mark Okita, chief operating officer, called the plant’s closure announcement “an incredibly difficult decision.” but inevitable. The company will instead invest $100 million in its three remaining production facilities located in East Greenville, Pennsylvania, Union City, California and Campbellford, Ontario.
The Campbellford site will receive $60 million in improvements to further the company’s goal of making the site one of the largest confectionery coating manufacturing facilities in North America. The additional capacity, however, will not be in place until April 2026, officials said.
Meanwhile, more than $40 million will be spent on increasing operational efficiency and reliability, as well as automated processing and packaging equipment, at the East Greenville and Unionion locations. City.
The future of the Chicago plant has been uncertain since the family-owned chocolate maker was sold to Japanese ingredients company Fuji Oil Holding in 2018, Crain’s Chicago Business reported. Two years later, Blommer revealed that it would modernize and expand its manufacturing operations at the Fulton River District site, but would close its store there.
Founded in 1939, Blommer has grown to become the largest processor of cocoa beans in North America and regularly supplies the confectionery, baking and dairy industries. No timetable for closing the plant had been announced Friday afternoon.
NBC Chicago
