Thread: Chicago Immigration Raid Leaves Swiss Baker Scrambling to Restaff 800 workers

Illinois bakery that makes McDonald’s buns loses 800 workers in immigration raid

BY COMPILED BY ELIZABETH DONALD
edonald@bnd.com

NOVEMBER 28, 2017 03:58 PM
UPDATED 3 HOURS 2 MINUTES AGO

A Chicago bakery that makes buns for McDonald’s lost 800 workers — about one-third of its workforce — after an immigration raid and was struggling to replace them.

Aryzta AG CEO Kevin Toland said the company was trying to replace 35 percent of its workers after a raid at Cloverhill Bakery in Chicago, according to Bloomberg News. The Swiss-based company bakes hamburger buns for McDonald’s Corp. and other fast-food chains and supermarkets.

The company now struggles to find enough workers and will have to increase its wages — what Toland called “like having a brand new factory and brand new workforce.”

The workers were hired by a staffing agency, according to company officials, and Aryzta officials were unaware of “the extent of the risk that existed to the business.” They could not verify the workers’ documents during the raid, which occurred in September.

http://www.bnd.com/news/local/article186935513.html

March 19, 2017

Illinois businesses prepare for possibility of dramatic immigration raids

Feds Going After Fast-Food Chain Employing Illegal Immigrants

At Chicago bakery, labor issues pit blacks against illegal aliens

Hostess to buy Cloverhill facility that lost 800 workers in immigration raid

Greg Trotter Contact Reporter Chicago Tribune

Hostess Brands will acquire the Cloverhill bakery on Chicago’s Northwest Side that was the site of a massive immigration raid last year, Hostess said Thursday.

Aryzta, the Swiss parent company of Cloverhill, announced agreements to sell its Cloverhill facilities in two separate deals.

Hostess will acquire the Chicago bakery, including the Cloverhill and Big Texas brands;

Bimbo Bakeries USA will acquire a facility in Cicero, according to Aryzta. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Chicago immigration raid leaves bakery scrambling to rehire after 800 workers lost »

The immigration crackdown at the Chicago bakery, first reported by Aryzta executives in September, resulted in a loss of 800 workers, about one-third of the workforce at the facility, hurting production and sales. Acquiring the 137,000-square-foot bakery in the Galewood neighborhood will allow Hostess to expand its breakfast baked-goods offerings, including honey buns and Danish pastries, and bolster its private label partnerships, Hostess said in a news release Thursday.

The Chicago bakery already was a significant production site for Hostess, the company said.

“This strategic acquisition allows us to bring important product manufacturing in-house as we expand and drive growth in our breakfast product portfolio,” said Bill Toler, Hostess CEO, in the release. “In addition, this purchase will enable Hostess to forgo in-house capital investments and create significant value over the next few years.”

A Hostess spokeswoman didn’t return calls and emails seeking more information on its plans and the impact on the workforce.

It’s also not yet clear what plans Bimbo has for the Cicero facility. A Bimbo spokesman couldn’t be reached.

The Cloverhill business has Chicago roots dating back to 1961. Aryzta acquired Cloverhill in 2014.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/busine...201-story.html

Look at the welfare and food stamps roles...plenty to go to work and get them off the dole.

One parent can work days and one parent can work nights!

E-Verify doesn't prevent many companies from hiring undocumented workers

Grupo Bimbo

Hostess execs: More automation coming this summer at Cloverhill bakery in Chicago



May 10, 2018

Hostess plans to bring more automation this summer to its Cloverhill bakery on Chicago’s Northwest Side as part of an effort to turn around the money-losing business, company executives said Wednesday.

More automation could translate to layoffs at the bakery, though none have yet been announced. A company spokeswoman didn’t immediately respond to requests for information. Hostess — maker of Twinkies, Ding Dongs and other brands — bought the bakery and its brands from Swiss company Aryzta earlier this year for about $25 million after an immigration crackdown decimated Cloverhill's workforce and...


SHOW MORE (Subscription required)