Cocoa Plant Destroyed by Massive FireCocoa Plant Destroyed by Massive Fire

A cocoa factory in Kankakee County, IL, south of Chicago, was destroyed by a large fire late Tuesday night.

It happened at the Gilster-Mary Lee Corp. around 11 p.m., according to the Momence Police Department. The 40,000-sq.-ft cocoa plant manufactures chocolate products such as hot cocoa mixes, chocolate syrup, and instant chocolate drink mixes, according to the company website.

A spokesperson for the private label, contract, and food service manufacturing company said the fire happened during the night shift, and an estimated 30 employees were working at the time. A total of 70 people work at the plant.

The police department said that when they arrived, flames were visible, according to local news WCIA. Officers immediately worked to evacuate the facility, which they said was occupied at the time of the fire.

The Momence Fire Protection District, along with other fire agencies, got the fire under control after several hours. But, they had to return to the factory twice on Wednesday to extinguish hotspots. The fire department said that no one was hurt.

All 70 employees are now without a job.

There was “extensive damage” to the building according to the Gilster-Mary Lee Corp. spokesperson. Right now, they’re working to access the damage and working to figure out if — and when — the factory will be able to reopen, WCIA added.

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Gilster-Mary Lee Corp. has three additional plants in IL, four in MO, and a distribution and trucking facility in MO. Other products the company manufactures includes baked goods, cereals, popcorn, corrugated sheets and pasta.