The future site of the Haribo facility is on a 136.8 acres in the Prairie Highlands Corporate Park. The company held a private groundbreaking at its site earlier this month.
The path to a sweeter life in the village of Pleasant Prairie took a step forward Monday night.
And by sweeter, that means gummy bears and lots of the them.
The village’s Plan Commission unanimously approved the final site and operational plans for Haribo, which plans to develop a 136.8-acre property in the Highlands Corporate Park. The main office and production site will be located at 12488 Goldbear Drive and the warehouse at 948 122nd Ave.
When completed, the manufacturing facility will be Haribo’s first in North America. Groundbreaking is expected in September, with the first phase set for completion in April of 2022.
Plan Commission Chairman Mike Serpe said the village has plenty to be proud of with the development along the I-94 corridor heading to and from Pleasant Prairie.
“People coming into Wisconsin on I-94 and leaving Wisconsin on I-94, what they’re seeing today compared to what was there a number of years ago, this is just a transformation on the west side of the interstate that is something all of us can be proud of,” he said.
“Compared to the adult book stores that were there at one time and a military junkyard, we have now two quality businesses, one that’s running and one that will be running soon, in Uline and now Haribo. I couldn’t be more proud in what this village has accomplished.”
Included in the first phase is a 487,400-square-foot production building with a three-story accessory storage/mechanical area and a two-story administrative and assembly area.
Also planned in the first phase is the construction of an 87,866-square-foot warehouse building that is connected by a 475-foot-long passageway that will allow raw material and products to move between the production and warehouse buildings on a series of conveyors.
At the completion of the first phase, it is expected that Haribo will have 450 full-time employees in the production facility, 44 full-time employees in the warehouse and a total of 20 part-time employees.
The facility will operate on three shifts Monday through Friday, the production facility will run 24 hours a day, and the warehouse from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. At its maximum, a total of 250 employees are expected on site at any given time.
The Village Board previously gave its conditional approval to the company’s conceptual plan in May of 2018.
Excited to be here
Haribo Chief Production Officer Arndt Ruesges said in a press release issued by the village that the company is excited to move forward with the project.
“We’re reaching our 100th anniversary at Haribo this year, and we’re excited to celebrate that with continued progress on our first U.S. factory,” he said. “We’re thrilled with reaching each milestone and are proud to partner with the village of Pleasant Prairie to make that happen.
“We founded our business on the principle of quality and inspiring moments of joy through our treats, and our new factory will help us continue that tradition and produce gummies for our consumers for generations to come.”
With 16 production sites in 10 countries, Haribo currently employs nearly 7,000 associates and produces 100 million gold bears worldwide every day. Founded in 1920, the third-generation family-owned business has its global headquarters in Grafschaft, Germany, and it’s U.S. headquarters in Rosemont, Ill.
SIMMONS BLOCK PARTY
Simmons Island Block Party
Noah Muniz, 5, gets help from his grandfather, Chuck LeMay, while checking out a 1972 Hornet Wagon in front of the Kenosha History Center during the Simmons Summer Kickoff Block Party on Saturday. The event, shortened by rain, featured American Motor Co. and other classic cars as well as food vendors.
Harris and Hudson with Matt
Dan Harris shares his love of classic cars with his son, Matt; seen here examining the engine of a Hudson.
CAR SHOW BAKER PARK
Smart dog: Bowie, owned by James Bradmon, takes advantage of the shade underneath a classic car to escape the heat during the Father’s Day Kenosha Car Show, hosted by Vintage Auto Group and Kenosha Classic Street Machines, at Baker Park on Sunday, June 17, 2018.
CAR SHOW BAKER PARK
‘I like it hot, like today,” said Manuel Palos, Sr., left, as he and his son Manuel Palos, Jr., right, viewed a 1969 Dodge Super Bee. “It’s good to spend time with dad in the morning,” said Palos, Jr. The pair were at the Father’s Day Kenosha Car Show, hosted by Vintage Auto Group and Kenosha Classic Street Machines, at Baker Park on Sunday, June 17, 2018.
CAR SHOW BAKER PARK
You can’t go wrong (especially in Kenosha) taking your dad to the Father’s Day Car Show in Baker Park, where you’ll see classic cars like this 1959 Edsel Corsair, owned by Tony Ammendola.
CAR SHOW BAKER PARK
Pete Foley, right, stays out of the sun underneath an umbrella with his 1938 Chevy coupe, painted with flames in a “laser red” metallic pearl during the hot Father’s Day Kenosha Car Show, hosted by Vintage Auto Group and Kenosha Classic Street Machines, at Baker Park on Sunday, June 17, 2018.
CAR SHOW BAKER PARK
CAR SHOW BAKER PARK
Another vehicle arrives for the Father’s Day Kenosha Car Show, hosted by Vintage Auto Group and Kenosha Classic Street Machines, at Baker Park on Sunday, June 17, 2018.
CAR SHOW BAKER PARK
“It’s pretty cool. You don’t get to see cars like this every day. It’s just a cool experience to see the cars,’ said Joseph White, left, as he takes a photo of a 1930 Ford Model A truck owned by Rick Colp of Pleasant Prairie that’s reflected in the paint job of 1965 Pontiac GTO, right, owned by Jerry Chapman. Father’s Day Kenosha Car Show, hosted by Vintage Auto Group and Kenosha Classic Street Machines, at Baker Park on Sunday, June 17, 2018.
CAR SHOW BAKER PARK
Roy Scuffham grabs some cold water out of the trunk of his 1969 GTO, “The Judge.”
duringFather’s Day Kenosha Car Show, hosted by Vintage Auto Group and Kenosha Classic Street Machines, at Baker Park on Sunday, June 17, 2018. Scuffham got the car in 1980 and replaced it’s bent frame with another from a 1969 LeMans that he had on hand. “It keeps me out of the bars and out of trouble. The wife knew where I was,” said Scuffham
CAR SHOW BAKER PARK
CAR SHOW BAKER PARK
‘I like it hot, like today,” said Manuel Palos Sr., above left, as he and his son Manuel Palos Jr., right, view a 1969 Dodge Super Bee. “It’s good to spend time with dad in the morning,” said Palos, Jr.
The pair were at the Father’s Day Kenosha Car Show, hosted by Vintage Auto Group and Kenosha Classic Street Machines, at Baker Park on Sunday, June 17, 2018.
CAR SHOW BAKER PARK
CAR SHOW BAKER PARK
“Ten miles per gallon, if you’re lucky, on a good day, with the wind behind you,” said Steve Andersen, right, who drove his 1973 Cadillac hearse to the Father’s Day Kenosha Car Show, hosted by Vintage Auto Group and Kenosha Classic Street Machines, at Baker Park on Sunday, June 17, 2018.
WOUNDED WARRIOR CAR SHOW
Car enthusiasts walk through rows of classic cars during the annual car show fundraiser to benefit severely wounded soldiers. This year’s event is Sunday on Simmons Island.
WOUNDED WARRIOR CAR SHOW
CAR SHOW
Terry Brittingham brought his 1930 Ford to the Kenosha Classic Cruise-in Car Show. This year’s show is Sept. 1.
CAR SHOW
Dennis Spitz, front, gets help moving his 410 wind sprint car from his son, Kris, for the Kenosha Classic Cruise-in Car Show downtown on Saturday.
RODS FOR A REASON CAR SHOW
Auto enthusiasts look at classic cars during the Rods for a Reason car show at Petrifying Springs Park on July 9. Proceeds from the event will go to fund requests to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin from the Kenosha and Racine communities.
RODS FOR A REASON CAR SHOW
Auto enthusiasts look at classic cars during the Rods for a Reason car show at Petrifying Springs Park on Sunday, July 9, 2017.
Dan Truttschel
Reporter
