Chocolate production was halted and more than 100 workers were evacuated from the Blommer Chocolate Company early Tuesday when a fire broke out at the West Town factory.
Firefighters were called to the 5-story factory, at 600 W. Kinzie St., at about 5:20 a.m. after one of the company's chocolate roasters caught fire, a firefighter at the scene said.
Crews had the fire out in about 30 minutes, he said.
"The chocolate prices might go up a little bit," the firefighter, who wished to remain anonymous, joked.
One worker complained of a "big interruption" in chocolate production, and predicted the night’s work would have to be redone.
"They’re bringing a lot of water into the factory to extinguish the fire, that’s a no-no," said Sherman Bramlett, a maintenance mechanic at Blommer Chocolate for three years. "This is going to contaminate the chocolate."
West Kinzie Street was closed between North Desplaines and North Clinton streets for more than an hour.
No injuries were reported.
Blommer is the largest cocoa processor and ingredient chocolate supplier in North America, the company states on its website.
