The North Sioux City Interbake Foods plant, shown above on March 10, added 60 jobs last fall and invested $11.4 million in new equipment and technology.
Tim Hynds, Sioux City Journal
Girl Scout Cookies roll down the production line at the Interbake Foods plant in North Sioux City in an undated file photo. The North Sioux City Interbake Foods plant added 60 jobs last fall and invested $11.4 million in new equipment and technology.
NORTH SIOUX CITY | Interbake Foods added 60 jobs at its North Sioux City bakery last fall to meet growing demand for its products.
Interbake is one of North Sioux City's largest employers, with a workforce of about 500.
The Richmond, Virginia-based food maker had earlier in the year invested $11.4 million to upgrade equipment at the southeast South Dakota factory, which makes Girl Scout cookies and other baked goods.
Company officials said the updated equipment will allow the company to be more effective and competitive. The South Dakota Governor's Office of Economic Development approved an undisclosed Reinvestment Payment for the project.
“Not only will the company be upgrading existing equipment and adding new machinery to retain its competitive edge, but a number of existing employees will also be elevated into higher-paying operator positions to run the new equipment," Gov. Dennis Daugaard said in a statement announcing the project in November 2014.
Pay for the new jobs announced last October started at $12 per hour and increased to $12.50 per hour after 12 weeks of employment, according to a news release from the company. Workers also had opportunities to advance to $16 per hour, plus health and welfare benefits.
Late last year, the company and union workers at the plant approved a new five-year contract that includes a series of wage increases.
The union, Bakers Local 433, represents hourly workers in the food production, ovens, lab and sanitation departments.
The new contract will run through Oct. 12, 2020.
Interbake is a division of Toronto-based George Weston Ltd.
As part of a 2005 expansion, Interbake shifted all of its Girl Scout cookie production to the North Sioux City plant at 1 Devils Food Drive. More than 100 million boxes of Girl Scout cookies are reportedly made at the plant annually.
NORTH SIOUX CITY | When 7-year-old Zoella Kearn finished her tour of Interbake Foods Saturday afternoon, it was easy to think of her favorite part.
The North Sioux City Interbake Foods plant, shown above on March 10, added 60 jobs last fall and invested $11.4 million in new equipment and technology.
Girl Scout Cookies roll down the production line at the Interbake Foods plant in North Sioux City in an undated file photo. The North Sioux City Interbake Foods plant added 60 jobs last fall and invested $11.4 million in new equipment and technology.
