Hershey Closing Peppermint Patties Plant in Pa. (moving to Mexico)

Business Week ^ | 2/20/09 | AP

[Dr. Scarpetta]

A flag is flying at half-staff outside The Hershey Co. plant in Reading where production of York Peppermint Patties is ending.

After 23 years in Reading, the chocolate maker is closing the plant Friday and moving production to a new factory it has built in Monterey, Mexico.

It will mean the loss of 300 jobs in the southeastern Pennsylvania city. The plant also makes 5th Avenue and Zagnut candy bars and Jolly Rancher hard candies.

[Netizen]

It must have been that damned sock tariff. They would never move a job just to pay a worker a vastly lower slave wage.

LMAO!

[Petronski]

Any PA Folks know if they still have the Eat and Parks and those buns?

Yes we do. Good stuff.

[ThomasThomas]

I thing she would be in her 70’s now.

[BfloGuy]

The high cost of American tariff-protected sugar is driving a lot of candy-making offshore. Many Freepers claim tariffs are the way to go — this is a good example of what they really accomplish. Once again, blame the government.

[spintreebob]

For most of my 25 years since I switched into IT there has been a shortage of workers willing and able to do the work that needs to be done.

Willing and able are the operative words.

Willing? Too many Americans are prima donnas. They won’t go where the jobs are. They won’t do the technology or business that needs to be done. They want both guaranteed stock options and a high salary. They don’t want to actually work when on the clock. they want to work in some hot new technology on the bleeding edge where the company cannot make a profit. They don’t want to work in some language or platform that is tried and true where the company can make a profit.

Able? Our mis-education system has taught too many citizens how to FEEL about computers; not how think logically. Too many have a video game paradigm rather than a business paradigm. In a video game paradigm, the object of the software program is to see how long the user can stay alive before the computer game kills the user. That does not work when a salesman or cashier is trying to complete a business transaction.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

It would be a definite help to me and my family if there was an easily accessible, easily understood listing of products that fully quality as American Made. I would happily restrict my purchases to those on that list, even it the cost was higher, but darned if I can figure out what’s America made anymore.

I hear you. That's how I felt last year when I bought my Mercury, and I'm proud to own an American car. I know how everyone is mad at the unions, but I made up my mind to buy American. I'm not sorry...

[MaxMax]

Yum, peppermint patties with roach protein. Healthy choice.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

The whole country of Mexico is in danger of being taken over by the drug cartells in the next few years and they want to move their manufacturing facilities there.

I wonder if the Hershey CEO will be afraid to travel there. He'll have to have a security entourage.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

take a drive into Reading and you'd think you're already in Mexico.

Allentown's in a similar situation.

[ontap]

So your source is post #16 and a cafe owner and a lab worker that THOUGHT the contamination MIGHT have come from China. I think I might need a little more before I started with the fireworks friend!!!

[Dr. Scarpetta]

wonder how they’ll feel about that decision when Mexico becomes a failed state.

They're probably too naieve to have thought about that. Maybe they should start watching Glenn Beck.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

You’re welcome...

[ontap]

They’re doing a hell of a job on GM,Ford and Chrysler, not withstanding the socks factory. Where did all that steel production go. How about the farm implement industry. You’re right those poor unions aren’t to blame. But wait Toyota, Honda and Nissan are making money. I wonder what the difference could be.. sarc/

[anniegetyourgun]

You would think the fact that the State Dept. has issued alerts for Americans considering travel to Mexico might be a first clue.

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_3028.html

[meadsjn]

Hhmmm...wonder how they’ll feel about that decision when Mexico becomes a failed state.

No worries. You, the generous taxpayer, have already insured them against any corporate losses through OPIC.

[Temple Owl]

I heard that they pee in the beer they make, so I will not drink it. Hey, I never likes 5th avenue bars anyway. What about re fried beans, that stuff looks like baby doo doo.
I think I'll buy American, except for Georgia peanuts.

[gore_sux]

America is closed to business so it doesn’t surprise me at all. Just more companies getting out to survive.

[Thumper1960]

I think the main thrust should be that government must be reduced since it is so inefficient. Stick to the areas that government is Constitutionally required to perform and allow the people to make best use of the monies earned by productive labor and investment.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

Wow...

Thanks for the link!

[bert]

The lesson to be learned from this move is weather Americans prefer inexpensive candy or wages in Pennsylvania that are too high. When there are excessive union demands, excessive regulation, excessive taxe, being in business makes no sense.

The solution is to move away from the mortal problems. With democrats in control, out of the USA may be the best solution.

Those here who say “no more Hershey’s for me” are also saying they support the ongoing harm of excessive union demands, excessive regulation and excessive taxes.