AUGUSTA COUNTY - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that Hershey Chocolate of Virginia, Inc. will add an additional 110 jobs and invest $48 million to expand its Augusta County manufacturing facility. Virginia successfully competed with California and Pennsylvania for the project.
“Over the years, Hershey’s continued commitment to the Commonwealth has provided tremendous employment opportunities for Virginians,” said Governor Warner. “This expansion project once again shows that Virginia is a leader in the food processing industry and continues to be committed to its existing businesses.”
“From the beginning, Augusta County and the Commonwealth of Virginia welcomed and supported Hershey,” said Richard H. Lenny, Chairman, President and CEO, Hershey Foods Corporation. “This strong government support coupled with the truly outstanding people who work at this facility made Virginia the right choice for our expansion efforts.”
The Virginia Economic Development Partnership teamed with the Shenandoah Valley Partnership and Augusta County to provide assistance and support for the project. The Virginia Department of Business Assistance will support the project with its Workforce Services Program. The company also qualifies for the Major Business Facility job tax credit as well as general sales and use tax exemptions.
“We appreciate Hershey’s confidence in the local management and workforce and look forward to many years of growth for Hershey Chocolate of Virginia,” said Kay Frye, Chairman of the Augusta County Board of Supervisors.
Hershey Foods Corporation is the leading North American manufacturer of quality chocolate and non-chocolate confectionary and chocolate-related grocery products, and has a variety of international operations. Among Hershey’s most popular products are: Reese’s peanut butter cups, Hershey’s milk chocolate and milk chocolate with almond bars, Hershey’s Kisses chocolates, Kit Kat wafer bars, Twizzlers candy, Hershey’s cocoa, and Hershey’s syrup. Hershey Chocolate of Virginia, Inc. produces approximately five million peanut butter cups a day and over 160 million pounds of finished product each year. The plant has grown from fewer than 100 employees in 1983 to over 600 today.