The Nova Scotia government is being urged to do what it can to ensure a famous chocolate factory stays open.

Hershey plans to sell its 78-year-old Pot of Gold brand of chocolates because it does not fit its corporate strategy. The brand is only produced at the Moirs plant in Dartmouth. 

Though the company has not said whether it will close the factory itself, Halifax Mayor Peter Kelly is appealing to the province to intervene.

He wants Premier Rodney MacDonald to contact Hershey to prevent the possible closure of the plant until a new buyer can be found.

"I just want to make sure that we do whatever we can to try to protect these jobs for the area," Kelly told CBC News.

Seasonal workers

Hershey laid off about 500 of the 820 employees at the Dartmouth plant just before Christmas when the candy season ended.

In March, the company said it was possible that hundreds of people would not be hired back because it was restructuring to become more competitive.

The Moirs plant has two loans through Nova Scotia Business Inc., the province's business development agency.