Ripon College Days

Media Credit: Photo by Caitlin Clark Mmm, mmm, good. Ripon's cookie outlet store attracts townspeople and passersby alike with its visible locale and tasty treats. [Click to enlarge]

These days rumors concerning the future of the local cookie factory hover over the college as much as the sweet smell of fresh-baked Rippin' Good Cookies.

Though Director of Operations for Ripon Foods Jeff Hollis assures the Ripon plant is simply changing, not closing, the Ripon rumor mill still churns.

Some, including first year Michael Lloyd and sophomore Anthony Kemp say they've heard the Ripon plant will be no more. "I heard it was closing and moving to Illinois," says Kemp.

Others say they've heard of cutbacks at the Ripon plant.

"I heard that they were closing part of the Ripon factory, but not the whole thing," says sophomore Megan Calder.

And still others don't know what to think.

"A lot of different people have said that the headquarters are moving to Illinois or something," says sophomore Patricia Barker. "I have no idea what they are doing with the whole factory, or even if the rumors are true."

The truth, according to Hollis and press releases from Ralcorp, the corporation that owns the Bremner facility that is Ripon's cookie-making plant, is while Bremner and Ripon Foods are indeed making some changes within the Ripon cookie factory, the facility is not shutting down.

This summer Bremner announced plans to begin production at a plant in South Beloit, Ill., which was purchased in February 2005. What this means for the Ripon plant is a change in what types of cookies are made.

According to Hollis, there are two ways to make cookies, the wire-cutting process and the enrobed cookie method. Examples of wire-cut cookies include chocolate chip, oatmeal and macaroon cookies, while enrobed cookies are those coated with chocolate like the frosted animal crackers or marshmallow fudge cookies.

"We are moving the wire-cut cookie production to South Beloit," says Hollis. "We are trying to develop [the Ripon] location with the production of the enrobed cookie."

Based on the shift in type of production, the ever-popular cookie outlet store may or may not be affected in the types of cookies that are sold there, but it will remain open regardless.

"We need to be willing to make changes to be competitive," says Hollis. The baking industry, he says, is a "tough, competitive market."

Ultimately, the change in cookie production means job loss for the Ripon community.

"Significant job loss is due to this facility not being competitive, which results in the products being moved to South Beloit," says Hollis.

While changes involving the cookie factory will impact the greater community, some students think the changes will affect the college community as well.

"I think it would affect the college," says Calder. "It's an added bonus for admissions to give out cookies. By moving the operations we might not have that kind of treat for prospective students."

Rippin' Good Cookies also defines Ripon, Wis., says junior Aaron Bartell.

"When I say I go to Ripon College, people always immediately think of Rippin' Good Cookies. It puts Ripon on the map-not just in the state, but around the country," he says.

Article Tools