A Chattanooga plant that makes ice cream cones and was formerly part of Turnbull Bakeries will close Oct. 1 unless a buyer is found, an official said Tuesday.
The shutdown affects about 90 full-time workers, said manager Derek Presley
The facility on Parmenas Lane on Moccasin Bend had been owned by Consolidated Biscuit Co., which was recently bought by Hearthside Food Solutions of Downers Grove, Ill., he said.
Mr. Presley said the new owners want to discontinue the cone business.
It plans to offer workers a full severance package in the event of a closure, he said.
The facility has been open since 1980, Mr. Presley said.
Consolidated Biscuit of McComb, Ohio, acquired the operation in October 2004. The plant had closed earlier that year when the Bake Line Group LLC filed for bankruptcy.
Bake Line had acquired the former Turnbull Bakeries and its affiliate, Custom Baking Co., in 2002.
TURNBULL BAKERIESThe company begun in 1907 in Cincinnati and later opened plants in Chattanooga and New Orleans. The company had relocated to Chattanooga in 1935.
Turnbull at the time was the biggest private label supplier of ice creme cones, sugar wafers and other cookie items. It had been owned by the Turnbull family since its start in 1907. The company employed about 300 workers and had annual sales of $16 million when it was sold by Turnbull.
Tim Spires, incoming Chattanooga Manufacturers Association president, said it’s unfortunate for a business to close.
Even though Chattanooga is seeing a manufacturing resurgence, the climate is still tough, he said.
“They’re dealing with increased pressure,” Mr. Spires said, citing efforts to reduce costs and energy prices.