Du Quoin, Ill. — Heartland Baking Company, LLC Monday confirmed the closure of its Du Quoin bakery effective December 16, 2011.
The closure will result in the loss of 31 jobs. Severance arrangements will be made for Heartland employes who continue to work through the closure date.
The bakery is a fourth generation descendent of what began in the early 1990s as the General Henry Biscuit Co., founded by namesakes Ray and Darlene Henry.
During peak baking seasons the plant employed upwards of 90 people. Heartland (General Henry) was the first tenant of the Du Quoin Industrial Park created through a $50,000 gift from the Du Quoin Business Association, back in the late 1980s.
At this writing, MPP, Inc. is the only active tenant left standing in the large Industrial Park. MPP is a zinc metal electroplating company across the drive from Heartland.
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