Teasdale Latin Foods Strengthens Commitment to Plant Sustainability and Workforce Investment at Hoopeston Facility

HOOPESTON, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As one of Hoopeston’s two major employers, Teasdale Latin Foods (Teasdale) plays a vital role in the community. Despite the strike by the Grain Millers Union, Teasdale remains committed to sustainability, workforce stability, and the local economy.

“Our focus is on the future. Investing in people, processes, and equipment to ensure our Hoopeston plant remains a cornerstone of quality and reliability,” said Tim O’Connor, CEO. “We’re proud to build on this legacy while enhancing work-life balance for our team.”

To support long-term sustainability and employee wellbeing, as product demand and capabilities increases, our Hoopeston facility will transition from the current four-day, 12-hour shift schedule to a five-day, 8-hour shift schedule, providing greater predictability and work-life balance for employees. To support the enhanced production schedule, our Hoopeston facility will be adding up to 32 new positions, expanding job opportunities and boosting operational capacity.

Teasdale has adopted a new single-tier wage structure in the canning department, eliminating the previous 6-year progression model to ensure equity across all roles. The newly implemented contract includes year one raises ranging from 5% to 17%, with on-going hourly rates ranging from $17.45 to $34.38, depending on the role, reflecting Teasdale’s ongoing investment in its workforce.

As Teasdale looks to ramp up production and continue bringing in new local talent, Tom Tripp, COO, emphasized, “Safety, both people safety and food safety, is paramount. Every product that leaves our plant meets the highest Teasdale quality standards. Nothing substandard leaves our facility.” To maintain consistent availability of product during the training of new teams, Teasdale is also utilizing production support from its Atwater, CA canning facility.

By investing in people and operations, Teasdale ensures the long-term viability of our Hoopeston plant, supports community resilience, supports our customers, and upholds its values of transparency, integrity, and sustainability.

Teasdale Latin Foods is the leader in the manufacturing and marketing of a full line of Mexican and Latino-inspired foods. We take great care in delivering the highest quality foods that consistently help customers grow.