Hershey’s Virginia Plant Receives $135 Million For Production Lines Expansion

American confectionery manufacturer Hershey is pumping $135 million to expand production lines at its manufacturing plant in Virginia.

State Governor, Ralph Shearer Northam, hinted the Hershey’s Virginia will increase production capacity at its existing facility by 90,000 square feet.

“As we work to accelerate Virginia’s economic recovery, existing corporate partners like The Hershey Company are leading the way with new hiring and investment,” said Governor Northam.

“This major expansion is the company’s second in just over a year and is a strong testament to the Shenandoah Valley’s ability to attract and retain high-calibre manufacturers. We thank Hershey for its continued confidence in Virginia and its people, and look forward to the company’s next chapter of growth in our Commonwealth,” he added.

Confectionery Production reports that the capital injection into the Augusta County production facility will create 110 new jobs.

The Hershey Company, which has global interests across its chocolate and snacks business, is headquartered in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

It presently has approximately 16,500 employees, with more than 80 brands that drive $8 billion in annual revenues, including Hershey’s, Reese’s, Kit Kat, Jolly Rancher, IceBreakers, SkinnyPop, and Pirate’s Booty.

Hershey Chocolate of Virginia, Inc. has operated in Augusta County for more than 30 years and employs more than 1,000 people.

Hershey’s Virginia facility is the company’s second-largest plant in the United States. In May 2019, Governor Northam joined Hershey to announce a $104 million investment and 65 new jobs to expand production capacity at the company’s Augusta County operation.

“The Shenandoah Valley has been an excellent place for Hershey to do business and be a part of the community for 38 years now,” said Jason Reiman, Senior Vice President and Chief Supply Chain Officer at The Hershey Company. “We are proud to continue to invest and grow in an area that gives our employees a great place to live and work. Increasingly, Augusta County and Virginia are critical to our company’s growth and ability to deliver iconic and beloved products to consumers around the world.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Augusta County to secure the project for Virginia. Governor Northam approved a $1.1 million grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund to assist Augusta County with the project.

The Governor also approved a performance-based grant of $500,000 from the Virginia Investment Performance (VIP) program, an incentive that encourages capital investment by existing Virginia companies.

Funding and services to support Hershey’s job creation will be provided through the Virginia Jobs Investment Programme.

The company, which celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2019, continues to show commitment to its sustainability goals.

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