More than 250 people will lose their jobs when a Creston candy factory closes its doors in December.

Ferrara Candy Company announced Wednesday it would shutter its unionized Creston plant sometime in December. The company makes iconic sweets including Brachs, RedHots, Jujyfruits, Lemonheads and Trolli Gummi brand candies.

“Decisions that affect people are never easy and this was not one that was taken lightly," a statement released by the company read. "Ferrara Candy has been a proud part of the Creston community for more than 30 years. We greatly value the dedication and hard work of all our employees and are dedicated to treating our team members with dignity and respect."

Ferrara's statement said it would offer severance pay and transition assistance to its Iowa employees. The factory, which sits on the southeast side of town, is one of the largest employers in Creston, a town of roughly 7,800 and the Union County seat.

Creston Mayor Gary Lybarger said the news came as a surprise to the community.

"I'm more concerned about the families of the people who are going to be laid off out there. The job market isn’t the best," he said. "I guess all we can do is hope for the best and hope everybody can get employed somewhere else right away."

Workers at the plant make gummy bears and worms among other products, the mayor said. Only two other businesses — Bunn-O-Matic Corporation and Wellman Dynamics — employ more people in the area, he said.

"That’s quite a few jobs here in Creston," he said of the candy factory.

The company said it decided to shutter the factory after a comprehensive review of its operations. Its work will be shifted to existing Ferrara factories.

"In a dynamic industry that is constantly evolving, and as the company continues to grow and capture market share, it is critical that we leverage our most efficient assets and invest in those state-of-the-art facilities where we have a competitive advantage and scale," the company's statement said.

In summer 2015, workers in Creston complained of overheating inside the Ferrara candy factory. Some workers said they passed out from excessive heat, according to Des Moines Register archives.

Separately, Iowa OSHA fined Ferrara for several safety-related violations unrelated to heat in the last five years, resulting in fines totaling $54,050 for concerns ranging from faulty electrical equipment to not enough protection for workers exposed to dangerous machinery.

OSHA's online database shows other complaints and workplace safety violations since then. The agency fined the company $10,000 in 2016 for three violations.

In 2014, employees filed a federal class action wage-and-hour lawsuit over claims that Ferrara did not pay overtime to hourly employees who worked more than 40 hours per week.

In October 2016, Ferrara settled that suit. Federal court records show the company agreed to pay a total of $75,000 to three plaintiffs, plus $25,292 for attorney’s fees and costs.