5/18/2015 8:50:00 AM UPDATE: ConAgra, Union comment on closing of Ripon cookie plant Ian Stepleton Editor ConAgra Foods in Ripon will be closing one of its cookie-production plants in Ripon. According to sources inside the plant as well as the company itself, the west plant — formerly the Ripon Foods plant — which does enrobing work (i.e chocolate-covered cookies), will be closing soon. Employees in street clothes will be attending one of the several meetings held at the Oshkosh Street plant this morning. At these meetings, they are expected to be told the west plant will close. Meetings reportedly are scheduled for 9, 10 and 11 a.m. “We are talking with employees this morning and letting them know that after an extensive evaluation of our plant network, we determined that we need to close the soft bake and enrobed cookies facility in Ripon, WI,” said Teresa Paulsen, vice president of communication and external communications with ConAgra Foods in Omaha, Neb. “The transition will occur in phases between September of 2015 and the end of the year. This does not impact the wafer cookie facility in Ripon.” UPDATE: Alex Gillis, a union representative for Workers United Local 91, responded to the closing this morning. "We are still looking for ways to keep the plant open; we’ve stated that to the company," he said. "We are going to fight to keep the operation open; we are looking for ways. We most likely will need the support of Ripon, Neenah, Fond du Lac — the communities where these workers live." Employees are being encouraged by the the union to stop in at the Labor Hall off Scott Street through the day today. "We are going to be at the labor hall most of the morning and the day, just talking with members, and trying to see what is the next step in our strategy," Gillis said. Production shift supervisors already have been in and told of the closure, according to one of those supervisors. Security personnel are on site, as are people who employees do not recognize from the plant. It’s believed about 320 individuals will be affected by the closure. Based on the Paulsen's comment to the Commonwealth, it appears the east plant, which produces wafer cookies, will remain open. ConAgra acquired the Ripon plants in 2013, when they were owned by Ralcorp. “We are talking with employees this morning and letting them know that after an extensive evaluation of our plant network, we determined that we need to close the soft bake and enrobed cookies facility in Ripon, WI,” said Teresa Paulsen, vice president of communication and external communications with ConAgra Foods in Omaha, Neb. “The transition will occur in phases between September of 2015 and the end of the year. This does not impact the wafer cookie facility in Ripon.” Is the wafer plant remaining open solely because it is non-union over there? It seems funny to close the union portion down and leave the non-union part open and say nothing about the reasons for closing. Sure makes you think. Posted: Monday, May 18, 2015 Article comment by: Penny zarling Thy said it was a busy decision to close the factory.. Posted: Monday, May 18, 2015 Article comment by: K S This is terrible news for Ripon! 250 more people out of work in an already struggling small town is devastating news for everyone whether you work there or not.