February 20, 2009


Hershey closes Pennsylvania factory, moves production of Peppermint Patties to Mexico

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Production of York Peppermint Patties and other candy brands is coming to an end at The Hershey Co. plant in Reading, Pa.

After 23 years in Reading, the chocolate maker is closing the plant Friday and moving production to a new factory it has built in Monterey, Mexico. It will mean the loss of 300 jobs in the southeastern Pennsylvania city.

The plant also makes 5th Avenue and Zagnut candy bars and Jolly Rancher hard candies.

The nation's largest candy manufacturer announced two years ago that the plant would close as part of a wider move by Hershey to eliminate 1,500 jobs and one-third of its existing production lines, shifting more manufacturing to contractors in the United States.

Some workers will stay on for a few more weeks to close the plant.
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