Hershey has announced its plans to build a new 250,000-sq-ft chocolate production facility, located near its Reese’s plant in Hershey, Pa. Preliminary work is expected to begin in the near future, with the plant projected to be operational early in 2024.
The facility is part of Hershey’s $1 billion strategic investment that involves adding 13 production lines, upgrading 11 lines in existing its North American facilities, and developing new capabilities to increase both production and capacity. The company opened its first digitally enabled fulfillment center earlier this year and has plans in the works for a line expansion at its West Hershey plant.
According to Hershey, consumer demand for products is now at an all-time high, spurred by the growth in the popularity of the Reese’s brand, including newer products, such as Reese’s Stuffed with Pretzels and Reese’s Stuffed with Potato Chips.
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“Our ability to grow—today and in the future—is rooted in how fast we can make and deliver our products,” says Will Bonifant, vice president, U.S. & Canada supply chain. “We’ve made significant investments over the past few years with new facilities and updates to existing sites to speed production and make more of the iconic brands consumers love.
“We are committed to investing to meet the needs of our consumers in collaboration with our retail partners and suppliers. Investing in the strengths of our core brands—made right here in our hometown—will ensure that we’re meeting those consumer needs across a wide variety of snacking occasions and will help fuel future growth.”
