Cargill Cuts 80 Jobs as Operations Change at Wisc. Chocolate Plant

A subsidiary of American agribusiness Cargill, Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate, sent a letter to officials this week outline its plans to lay off 80 workers at its facility in Milwaukee, WI.

“The company has made the decision to simplify operations and focus on our core activities of making chocolate and molding. As a result, we are permanently discontinuing the operation of liquor grinding, dry grind, and retail packaging at the Milwaukee facility,” the company wrote to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development on April 5.

12 salaried roles and 68 hourly workers will be cut as Cargill shuts down the assets on or around June 5. The company said it is in communication with employees and the General Teamsters Local Union No. 200, which represents hourly staff at the site, regarding the timeline of the separations.

“The company and the union intend to begin bargaining over the effects of this decision as soon as possible,” the letter said.