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The Wrigley Company has announced plans to expand its Chattanooga confectionery plant to about double its full-time workforce, a move that will add 150 workers to its Jersey Pike plant. The expansion also represents an investment of $23 million for equipment and 60,000 square feet of additional space. |
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"We’ve made a commitment that the Chattanooga factory is going to pay a key role in producing candy," said Chris Perille, the company’s senior director of corporate communications. The 161,000-squarte-foot plant, which currently has 140 full-time workers, already makes Crème Savers and Gummi Savers. As part of the expansion, the Wrigley plant will be produce Altoid mints. In June Wrigley purchased the confectionary business of Kraft Foods in a $1.46 billion acquisition that included the Chattanooga plant. "Aside from the enormous economic benefits of this project, Wrigley brings to this community another model of corporate citizenship," said Mayor Claude Ramsey. "Long before Wrigley appeared on the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For list, it enjoyed a well-deserved reputation for employee loyalty and community engagement." We are grateful that Wrigley has chosen to bring new jobs to Chattanooga and to make such a significant investment in our community," said Mayor Ron Littlefied. "Our community’s aggressive marketing and economic development efforts continue to pay off as great corporations like Wrigley invest in our city." "As we move the production of Altoids mints to Chattanooga, it creates a need for more space," said Ron Pillsbury, Supply Chain Senior Director. "This decision shows the level of confidence we have in our team and reflects our intention to make Chattanooga a key part of Wrigley’s confectionery operations." "Tennessee is pleased to welcome another outstanding company to our state," said Tennessee Economic and Community Development Commissioner Matthew Kisber. "We believe Wrigley will find we’re a great place to do business. "I’m especially pleased that the state and local government worked so well together to help Wrigley decide to expand here." "This project pays tribute to the strength of our workforce and manufacturing base," said Trevor Hamilton, Chamber vice president of economic development. "The capabilities, productivity and work ethic of the employees at the former Kraft Factory, as well as the quality of the plant operations served as a strong attraction to Wrigley. The Chamb3er is delighted that Wrigley has chosen to build on the strong manufacturing foundation that exists in Chattanooga." |
