For Sale: Chocolate Factory

(Oakdale, California) The Hershey Company is selling its 417,000-foot production facility on 85 acres in Oakdale for $18.5 million. Purchaser will also take possession of a nut storage building, bean storage areas and a warehouse. CB Richard Ellis, a major commercial real estate company, is handling the property.

The entire workforce of 575 employees will be gone by January with today being the last day for the 99 people on the Hershey's Kisses and Kisses With Almonds production lines.

The plant's closure is part of a system-wide restructuring plan that includes the closure of five other plants in the U.S. and Canada this year. For the future, Hershey long-haulers will truck Kisses made in Mexico.

Employees contacted by the Modesto Bee refused to comment about the closure due to confidentiality agreements. It's not known what was received in return for signing the agreements.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.


[Update 07/10/07]

An emailer notes that the shutdown of the plant curiously coincided with the 100th anniversary of the Hershey Company. Heh.