Hershey to close Californian plants of Scharffen Berger and Joseph Schmidt

The Hershey Co. said Tuesday it plans to close Scharffen Berger s West Berkeley manufacturing plant as well as the San Francisco factory that makes Joseph Schmidt chocolates and consolidate production at other facilities.
Hershey, which in 2005 bought both Scharffen Berger, which specializes in premium dark chocolates, and trufflemaker Joseph Schmidt, will continue to produce those brands, but the chocolates will no longer be locally made.
Hershey already makes the majority of its Scharffen Berger products in its newly upgraded plant in Robinson, Ill., said spokesman Kirk Saville from the chocolate giant s headquarters in Hershey, Pa. He said the plant closures will affect a total of about 150 employees from both facilities.