DUNKIRK — To meet business demands, Wells Enterprises confirmed it will lay off fewer workers at its ice cream plant in Dunkirk than previously announced.

In a notice with New York, and through a spokesperson on Thursday, Wells said it will employ about 300 people at the 1 Ice Cream Dr. facility. In the fall, the Iowa-based company stated that 319 employees would be laid off by Dec. 31 while it scaled back its production lines from about 20 to five.

Production will continue to be scaled down, though now to six lines in Dunkirk to “help meet business demands,” a spokesperson told the OBSERVER in a statement.

In an amended notice to the state, Wells said 183 employees would be let go by the end of the year.

“We have appreciated help from the City of Dunkirk, the State of New York and local economic development officials as part of our workforce transitions on December 31, 2022,” the company said.

It was announced earlier this month that the Ferrero Group was acquiring Wells Enterprises, its operations and its ice cream brands — which include Blue Bunny, Blue Ribbon Classics, Bomb Pop and Halo Top. The acquisition is part of Ferrero’s “strategic growth ambitions” for the ice cream category and Wells’ vision for accelerated growth.

Ferrero started in 1946 as a small pastry shop in Alba, Italy.