One of two Farley's & Sathers buildings is on Jersey Pike.The Farley's & Sathers candy plant in Chattanooga is cutting 95 jobs as some production is shifted to other factories in the second major downsizing here by the company in the last couple of years.
Ferrara Candy Co., the Chicago-based parent of Farley's & Sathers, is moving manufacture of chocolate and maple nut goodies products from its Jersey Pike plant to facilities in Forest Park, Ill., and Bellwood, Ill., said company spokesman Bryan Darrow.
"Unfortunately, this will impact some positions," he said in an email. "While this is a necessary step for the company, decisions that impact people are never easy."
Darrow said the company is providing assistance to help the transition for those affected by the layoffs, including severance and outplacement services.
A notice to the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development put the job cuts at 95.
Darrow declined to comment on how many people continue to work at the Chattanooga plant. But the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce reported earlier this year, before the most recent cuts, that the facility employed about 200 full-time workers and 50 part-timers.
With the latest layoffs, Farley's & Sathers has slashed its workforce in Chattanooga from about 450 people five years ago.
Two years ago, Ferrara announced it was closing Farley's & Sathers' Cummings Road facility, which employed less than 200 people.
Steve Preston of the real estate firm CBRE, which is listing the Cummings Road site, said that 277,000-square-foot structure on 17.4 acres is vacant.
According to CBRE, the 100 percent temperature-controlled facility built in 1976 sports a 3,940-cubic foot granular sugar tank. The asking price is about $4.5 million.
Ferrara merged with Minnesota-based Farley's & Sathers in 2012.
Farley's & Sathers traces is Chattanooga roots back to Brock Candy Co. That business was bought by Brach's Confections in 1994.
Brach's later was purchased by Switzerland-based Barry Callebaut AG. In 2008, Farley's & Sathers purchased Brach's.
Darrow said Ferrara continuously evaluates ways to enhance performance and optimize efficiency.
He said the transfer of its chocolate and maple nut goodies products is effective June 27.
Contact Mike Pare at mpare@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6318.