Hershey to invest 250 million US-Dollar in confectionery plant in Malaysia

The Hershey Company has announced it will build a new confectionery manufacturing plant in Johor, Malaysia, to meet the growing consumer demand for its products in its fastest-growing region. Hershey has been investing in its Asia business for several years, building its presence across the region. The Johor factory, a USD 250 m investment, represents the single- largest investment in Asia during the company’s 18-year history in the region.

“Consumers across Asia are discovering a range of Hershey confectionery products, and China in particular is growing faster than any other market,” said Terence O’Day, Senior Vice President and Chief Supply Chain Officer, The Hershey Company. “Our new Malaysia plant will feature the latest confectionery manufacturing technology and will complement production at our existing joint-venture plant in China. Adding this new manufacturing capacity will put us in a strong position to meet the growing demand for our products across the region.”

The new plant will include innovations in automated candy-making technology, including proprietary equipment and systems developed to Hershey’s specifications. The plant’s capabilities will include high-speed wrapping machines featuring proprietary, specially engineered wrapping technologies. After Hershey completes the building structure in early 2015, the Malaysia plant will be one of the largest facilities in the company’s global manufacturing network with 700,000 total square feet.

The company has nine plants in the United States as well as facilities in Canada, Mexico, India, Brazil and China. The Malaysia plant will also have the capability to produce the broadest array of finished products of any Hershey factory outside of the United States and Mexico, including millions of Hershey’s Kisses each day.

www.hersheys.com