Round Lake-based Farley's & Sathers Candy Company has agreed to merge with Ferrara Pan Candy in suburban Chicago. Farley's makes Brach's, Now and Later, Trolli, Jujyfruits and Chuckles candies. Ferrara makes Lemonheads, Atomic Fireballs, Red Hots and Boston Baked Beans. The combined candy manufacturer will be based near Chicago.

Packaging company Bemis will close its St. Louis Park facility at the end of August or early September and its Minneapolis facility near the University of Minnesota will likely close by the end of the year, the company has reported. About 160 employees will be laid off.

The La Crosse Tribune reports the Minnesota-based company is shutting down the Brice Prairie plant near Onalaska in the next couple of months.

Associated Milk Producers Inc., based in New Ulm, plans to shut down its manufacturing facility in Dawson by the end of the year, the West Central Tribune reports. The soon-to-be idled plant has about 130 workers and primarily produces cheese sauces and puddings.

St. Paul-based Ecolab plans to close its Grand Forks office next July, the Herald reports. The facility has 144 full-time employees who support accounting, customer service, human resources, information technology and other administrative functions related to Ecolab's Pest Elimination business. Layoffs could begin as soon as January. Some employees may be able to work from home or take other jobs at Ecolab locations in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois or Indiana.

Kraft Foods Group says it plans to restructure its plants in New Ulm, Minn., Champaign, Ill., and Springfield, Mo. The New Ulm Journal reports the Illinois-based food and beverage conglomerate plans to invest $25 million in new packaging equipment and related infrastructure, but as many as 90 jobs in Minnesota could eliminated. The changes will take place throughout next year.