An iconic candy plant is closing its doors after more than 100 years in business, therein becoming a staple of the North Chicago neighborhood in which it resides.

Whenever I would take family or school trips to Chicago as a kid, it was always a treat (for me) to see a few specific things: the Sears Tower, the Chicago River, the old Chicago Tribune building, and the Jelly Belly Candy Company, located at 1501 Morrow Avenue. Sadly, the latter building will now be vacant after the company announced its imminent closure back in July and has officially closed up shop.

The once family-owned candy company known for its famous jelly beans announced the closure of the plant in North Chicago a few months back, with 66 layoffs expected as a result. Per WGN, the announcement came after Jelly Belly's acquisition by Ferrara Candy Company in October 2023. Ferrara Candy Company is also based in Chicago.

Ferrara Candy Company released a statement that Friday, October 11th was its final day of operation:

As planned, all remaining North Chicago plant operations will cease at the close of business today with final product shipments through next week - per WGN

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A spokesperson for Ferrara Candy stated that manufacturing would be moved to another facility following a "careful review of the current volumes produced" at the North Chicago location. 66 employees impacted by the plant's closure were all offered opportunities to move into positions in Ferrara Candy's five other manufacturing facilities in Chicagoland, including locations in Forest Park and Itasca to name a couple:

We are focused on helping our North Chicago team members. For our 66 impacted employees, we are hopeful they will stay with Ferrara in different positions and are offering the opportunity to move to open roles in our five other Chicagoland manufacturing facilities - per WGN

The Jelly Belly Candy Company began operations as the Herman Goelitz Candy Company in 1969; the company has roots in Belleville, IL. A Chicago factory was opened in 1904 before moving to North Chicago in 1913.

That means the plant was in operation for 110 years before its closure. You can't help but feel a piece of Chicago history has been lost, even if the current owners of the company are still a part of the city.

Read more about the Jelly Belly Candy Company closing its North Chicago plant on WGN's website.

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