A major employer in Le Mars is laying off almost five dozen people.

Wells Enterprises — makers of Blue Bunny Ice Cream in Le Mars, Iowa — has announced the company will be laying off 58 employees. According to a company statement, Wells Enterprises remains on-track toward reaching its goal of becoming the U.S. market leader in the highly competitive ice cream industry, but in order to achieve the goal, the company says it is necessary to make adjustment.

Employees will be given severance packages and job-search assistance.

(Reporting by Dennis Morrice, KLEM, Le Mars)