Hershey Investing $250 Million To Build Plant in Malaysia

HERSHEY, Pa.The Hershey Company will invest $250 million to build a new confectionery manufacturing plant in Johor, Malaysia, to meet growing consumer demand in the region. The plant will expand the distribution of four of the company's five global brands as part of Hershey's vision to achieve $10 billion in annual revenue by 2017.

The Johor plant, which will produce four of Hersheys five global brands, including Hersheys Kisses, Ice Breakers, Reeses and Hersheys Milk Chocolate bars, represents the single-largest investment in Asia during the companys 18-year history in the region. The plant is scheduled for completion in early 2015, and will be one of the largest facilities in the companys global manufacturing network with 700,000 total square feet.

Hersheys global growth plans include focusing on key international focus markets, such as China, and expanding its consumer product portfolios around the world. Hershey expects international sales to reach approximately $1 billion by the end of 2014.

The new plant will include innovations in automated candy-making technology, including proprietary equipment and systems developed to Hersheys specifications. Capabilities will include high-speed wrapping machines featuring proprietary, specially engineered wrapping technologies.

The plants location will provide Hershey with distribution access to more than 25 markets across Asia. Malaysia also offers a well-educated potential workforce, a stable political environment, strong supply chain infrastructure and globally recognized halal food manufacturing certification, considered an advantage for products sold in the region.

Earlier this year, the Hershey Company announced the expansion of its Hershey Learn to Grow program, which was originated in Ghana in 2012, to Nigeria to provide 20,000 cocoa farmers with advanced training in order to improve the quality of their cocoa, while doubling productivity and increasing farmer income by 30%.