Blommer announces $80 million Campbellford expansion
Company to close Chicago facility, expand its Second Street operation
This is an updated version of my earlier story on the Blommer expansion. It includes more details from General Manager Neil Fulton on what is planned for the Campbellford plant.
Blommer Chocolate Co. plans to spent about $80 million over the next two years to expand its Campbellford factory, the company announced last Friday.
The investment was announced as part of a corporate transformation that includes closing the company’s original Chicago facility that opened in 1939. The expansion will create 30 additional jobs in Campbellford.
The expansion means Second Street will be a busy construction zone over the next few years since the new bridge across the Trent River will be under construction just down the hill from the chocolate factory.
Blommer Chocolate was purchased by Fuji Oil Holdings in November 2018 for $750 million (U.S.) The company has owned the former World’s Finest Chocolate plant on Second St. since 2006. The plant has been undergoing renovations for the past year.
“One of the major factors in the Blommer transformation is expanding our service to the specialty confectionery coating business by investing in the Campbellford facility,” says Neil Fulton, General Manager – Campbellford.
Fulton said the investment will make this facility one of the largest confectionery coating manufacturing facilities in North America, with the additional capacity coming online in April 2026.
This includes an 11,000 square foot addition to house a state-of-the-art roller refining line. Other additions will include a new depositing line and multiple storage tanks for both raw materials and work in process.
The benefits for the factory specifically and Blommer Chocolate as a whole are many:
53 million pounds of additional capacity for the factory, bringing the total potential volume to 145 million pounds of production annually.
True sugar-free compound coating manufacturing capability.
Added capability to produce ice cream coatings.
The ability to leverage Fuji Oil’s expertise in fat systems to service the baking, frozen novelty, and nutritional sectors.
The net addition of 30 jobs at the factory over the next four years.
Economic benefit to Blommer Campbellford’s local and southern Ontario business partners.
When the project is completed in 2026, the Campbellford factory will be one of the largest compound manufacturing facilities in North America. The investment secures the factory’s position as one of the largest local employers and an indispensable part of the Blommer supply chain.
“Our factory has been part of the Campbellford community for over 65 years,” Fulton says. “We are extremely proud that Fuji and Blommer have recognized the reliability and performance of our team by choosing to make this large capital investment in the Campbellford facility. It ensures our long-term participation in Fuji’s business plans using its oils and fats expertise. The investment results in both direct job creation and the need for more services – it is a win-win for Campbellford and the surrounding areas.”
Blommer decided to close the Chicago facility because its location and age increased operating and repair costs, the company said. Its corporate headquarters, applications lab, and research and development centre will remain in downtown Chicago.
“Our planned expansion to the Campbellford Canada operation is the next step toward our transformation,” says Mark Okita, Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President of Commercial. “This marks a new chapter for us as Blommer, as well as our customers. It is imperative that we challenge ourselves aggressively to ensure that this becomes the best chapter yet.”
The company will also spend about $55 million to revamp facilities in East Greenville, PA, and Union City, CA. These investments will increase operational efficiency and reliability, as well as automate processing and packaging equipment.
Blommer currently has more than 900 employees at its three manufacturing facilities. It does not sell directly to consumers, but serves the confectionery, baking, and dairy industries.
The company was founded in Chicago in 1939 by Henry Blommer Sr. and his brothers Al and Bernard.
