Ferrara Candy adding work in western suburbs

Ferrara Candy Co. is moving some production to the west suburbs from Winona, Minnesota.

The maker of Lemonheads, Red Hots and Atomic Fireballs is closing its plant in Winona and moving that work to a plant in Bellwood.

The company said 124 people in Winona will be out of work at the end of April.

The closing comes after a fire at the Minnesota plant last month. The fire started in some candy-making equipment, causing extensive damage to machinery but relatively minor damage to the building.

Winona Daily News says the plant was built in 1940 by the Schuler Candy Co. The plant has changed owners over the years with candy company mergers and acquisitions. Farley & Sathers merged with Ferrara Pan to form Ferrara Candy in 2012. The company also has factories in Iowa, Tennessee and Mexico.