A huge new Chapman’s Ice Cream plant is taking shape in Markdale and co-owner Penny Chapman is shooting for September 4th for a grand opening.
That would be one year to the day after a huge fire gutted the old facility.
The new plant is 165 thousand square feet in size, roughly double the original plant, and is costing the company 50 to 75 million dollars.
In the past, the company owner says they expanded in phases but this is an enormous project.
Right now, Penny Chapman says there are hundreds of workers on site — electricians, plumbers, welders — getting the plant ready.
In the meantime, Chapman’s Ice Cream has managed to hang on to market share despite the fire last year.
She says Canada Day weekend has been the busiest ever.
Penny Chapman says before the fire they had some 300 workers, now they are at 450 with the mini plant churning out hundreds of products while work continues on the new factory.
Once the new plant opens, Chapman says they will keep the 450 workers, keep the mini-plant going as a nut-free facility, and hire 50 to 100 more workers.
