Wrigley to invest $50m in US to add production of Skittles candy brand

US-based confectionery firm William Wrigley Jr. plans to invest approximately $50m to expand its factory in Yorkville, Illinois, US, to add the production of the Skittles candy brand.

The announcement is part of Governor Pat Quinn’s agenda to create jobs and drive Illinois’ economy forward.

The expansion, which is supported by the state of Illinois, will create 75 permanent manufacturing jobs and support hundreds of construction jobs.

Governor Quinn said that the Wrigley company has been a strong business partner of the state of Illinois for more than a century.

"This major expansion will mean even more jobs and economic growth for a company whose roots run deep in Illinois," Quinn added.

As part of the expansion, the company will expand its Yorkville plant by 145,000ft².

Wrigley plans to break ground on the expansion in a few weeks and commence production by the end of 2015.

Wrigley’s Yorkville plant manufactures the company’s leading brands such as Juicy Fruit, Doublemint and Life Savers, and it currently employs about 300 people.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is supporting the expansion with $2m in tax incentives through the Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) programme, which provides companies with a credit against their state income tax liability.

Wrigley North America supply chain vice president Kevin Fitzpatrick said that in partnership with the state, the company will be able to offer high-quality manufacturing jobs and ensure that the Yorkville facility has an opportunity to grow.

"More people worldwide are enjoying Skittles than ever before – something we’re very proud of. The increased demand creates a need for new production systems. We’re thrilled to bring a fresh opportunity to share Wrigley’s growth with our home state of Illinois," Fitzpatrick said.

In order to support the expansion, DCEO will also invest $250,000 in construction expenses and $37,500 in job training.

Yorkville Mayor Gary Golinski said: "Yorkville has been the proud home of the Wrigley manufacturing facility since 1995 and we are very excited about the expansion of the facility to accommodate the worldwide growth of Skittles."