Plochman’s Mustard Expanding, Hiring at Manteno, Illinois, HQ

Iconic Midwest condiment producer Plochman’s Mustard continues to expand its core mustard products, adding production lines, new shifts and more than 20 new employees in 2014-15 at its Manteno, Illinois, headquarters. The manufacturer also recently assumed production of parent company Haco’s Girard’s brand salad dressings in order to better meet the demand of its East Coast customer base and ensure continued growth at this Kankakee River Valley site.
 
Local workforce development Incumbent Worker Training Program grants played a part in facilitating Plochman’s most recent Manteno expansion, enabling employees to gain the robotics skills required to efficiently run the company’s new automated portion cup-filling line.
 
Capital investment at the Manteno facility in 2015-16 is projected at $1.5 million, according to Plant Manager Marty Faye. This activity is part of a phased plan to, in part, meet strong growth targets for the parent company’s salad dressing business.
 
Plochman’s, founded in Chicago in 1852, began selling mustard in the trademarked yellow squeeze barrel in 1957. The company relocated to Manteno in 1997 to build operational efficiencies. The company currently employs 55 permanent and temporary workers. To learn more, visit http://www.plochman.com/.
 
Photo courtesy The Daily Journal – THRIVE 2014-15.