Belvidere’s General Mills plant hiring for expanded product line

By Anne Eickstadt

ANNE EICKSTADT PHOTO Belvidere Daily Republican
General Mills’ Belvidere Plant Manager Jean Loesch, Deputy Governor Leslie Munger, and Mayor Mike Chamberlain hold boxes of Larabar fruit and nut bars that will soon be produced in Belvidere.

Editor

General Mills has many plants so when they choose to expand their products lines they have options. This time, as they ramp up production of their Larabar fruit and nut bars, they chose the Belvidere plant because of the support GM gets from the community and the great workforce here.

An open house was held on Tuesday, May 22 to introduce the new product for Belvidere’s GM plant.

“The Larabar product is really growing,” said plant manager Jean Loesch. “It is made with just a few, simple ingredients. Belvidere was selected to receive the capital to produce Larabar. The assembly lines are already under construction and will, hopefully, be completed by October. We are now hiring for 75 new jobs and plan to be in production by November.

“This is a product which will continue to grow and we will be adding more jobs in the future. It is a delicious fruit and nut bar that is really selling a lot. We are looking to expand the line here as well.

Loesche then introduced Illinois Deputy Governor Leslie Munger. “It is my honor to be here,” she said. “It is industries like this that bring jobs into Illinois and jobs bring growth. Illinois communities are based on hard work and industries bring the opportunity to work and raise families within the community.

“When General Mills brings capital into Belvidere, the area continues to build economic growth with healthy things to eat. When I had to travel a lot and practically lived in my car, I usually had several of these (Larabars) in my bag. I know what goes into building a brand with a high degree of quality. Gov. Rauner is committed to improving conditions for business development and community development.”

“We have been through a lot in this community,” said Mayor Mike Chamberlain. “There is not a better corporate partner than General Mills. General Mills could go anywhere but they chose the Belvidere plant and more jobs are being created here. We are starting to change …

For full article, pick up the May 27 BDR.