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Ferrara plans to close its 31st Street manufacturing plant in Chicago in April 2027, affecting an estimated 154 workers, according to an Illinois WARN notice. The company says products made there will continue to be produced at other facilities and that the closure is not expected to affect availability or customer service.
Ferrara plans to close its 31st Street manufacturing plant in Chicago in April 2027, a move expected to affect 154 workers, according to a notice filed under Illinois’ Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act. The candy and snack maker says production of the facility’s products will shift to other plants and that the closure is not expected to disrupt product availability or service to customers.
The plant makes Funables Fruity Snacks and Stretch Island Fruit Strips, Ferrara said. The company said neither product line is being discontinued; production will be transferred to other facilities. Employees affected by the closure can apply for open positions elsewhere within Ferrara, according to the company.
Ferrara described the decision as difficult, citing the company’s long history in Chicago. In a statement shared with Food Dive, it said the move followed an assessment of market conditions and its long-term innovation plans. The WARN notice provides the estimated number of affected workers and the expected closure timing; the supplied report does not give a detailed schedule for individual job departures.
Ferrara is also investing in manufacturing elsewhere. In April 2026, it announced plans to spend $675 million on a new manufacturing site in South Carolina, which it said would support strong demand for candies including Nerds Gummy Clusters. The company has not said that the South Carolina project will take over production from the Chicago plant.
Chicago Jobs and Ferrara Production
The planned closure affects more than 150 workers at a factory in the city where Ferrara was founded and still has its global headquarters. For employees, the company’s offer to apply for other Ferrara positions may provide an option, but the available information does not establish how many openings there are or whether they will match the affected workers’ roles, locations or pay.
For shoppers and retailers, Ferrara’s statement that production will move rather than stop is the central assurance: the company says the products will remain available and customer service will not be affected. The change nonetheless shifts manufacturing away from the 31st Street site. The move also comes amid broader efforts by food companies to adjust factory networks as consumer spending and purchasing habits change, though Ferrara has not provided a detailed account of how those industry factors shaped this specific decision.
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Ferrara’s Chicago Manufacturing Footprint
Ferrara has maintained a Chicago presence for nearly 120 years, according to the company’s statement cited by Food Dive. It closed a Jelly Belly plant in Chicago in 2024, while continuing to operate a facility in Forest Park, Illinois, that makes candies including Lemonheads. The planned 31st Street closure is therefore another change to the company’s local manufacturing footprint, but it does not mean Ferrara is leaving Chicago.
The company also moved Stretch Island production before. After acquiring the brand in 2019, Ferrara shifted production from Georgia to the Chicago plant in 2020. The planned transfer will move that production again, although the company has not identified the destination facilities in the source material. Ferrara’s South Carolina investment reflects a separate expansion announcement; the available reporting does not connect that project directly to the Chicago closure.
“We remain committed to Chicago, home to our global headquarters.”
— Ferrara, in an email to Food Dive
Details Workers Still Need
The expected closure month and estimated number of affected employees are reported, but several practical details remain unknown. The available source material does not identify which facilities will take over production, how the transfer will be phased or when individual employees will receive final notice of their last working day.
Ferrara has said employees can apply for openings across the company, but it has not specified how many roles are available or whether affected workers will be offered relocation, severance or other transition support. The company also has not given a detailed explanation of its market assessment or innovation plans beyond citing them as factors behind the decision.
Steps Before the April 2027 Closure
Ferrara’s stated target is to close the plant in April 2027. Before then, the company will need to shift production of Funables Fruity Snacks and Stretch Island Fruit Strips to other facilities while managing staffing changes. The source material does not provide dates for the production transfer or further workforce announcements.
Workers and customers may learn more as Ferrara communicates with employees and completes its manufacturing plans. The next key details to watch are the destinations for production, the number and locations of internal job openings, and any updated timetable for the plant’s closure.
Key Questions
When will Ferrara close its Chicago plant?
Ferrara expects to close its 31st Street plant in April 2027, according to the report published Nov. 10, 2026.
How many workers will be affected?
An Illinois WARN notice estimates that 154 workers will be affected. The source material does not provide a more detailed breakdown of roles or departure dates.
Will Funables Fruity Snacks and Stretch Island Fruit Strips be discontinued?
No. Ferrara said neither product is being discontinued and that production will move to other facilities. The company has not identified those facilities in the source material.
Can affected employees apply for other Ferrara jobs?
Yes. Ferrara said affected workers can apply for open positions across the company. It has not said how many positions are available or whether they will be in the same locations.
Is Ferrara leaving Chicago?
The closure is not an announcement that Ferrara is leaving the city. The company said it remains committed to Chicago, where its global headquarters are located, and it continues to operate a Forest Park facility.
Source: fooddive.com
