The process of rebuilding Chapman’s Ice Cream in Markdale continues.
General Manager Penny Chapman says the demolition of the old burned out plant is just about complete.
Administrative staff are working out of the old Nordic Furniture facility while their dry warehouse has been turned into a temporary ice cream production plant.
Chapman says they’ve purchased some used equipment so they can at least start producing some ice cream by November — but admits some of their product will be out of stock for a while.
The plant employs 350 people and close to 200 are still working.
Chapman says they continue to deliver, and they’ve got employees working in their cold storage facility, at the office and dealing with customers.
She says they also have workers who’ve offered to help in other ways including cleaning, painting and shovelling at the site.
The employees who have been displaced will have their wages covered for between 4 months and a year while the rebuild takes place.
The Markdale ice cream plant was destroyed by fire September 4th after a spark from a welder’s torch got into the beams.
The company just celebrated its 36th anniversary in business last week.