Ferrara Candy plans $675 million South Carolina plant

Ferrara Candy will open its first South Carolina plant in Orangeburg County with a $675 million investment, projected to create 1,000 manufacturing and corporate jobs over the next 10 years. The Chicago-headquartered candy maker plans to build a 750,000-ft² manufacturing facility with processing and packaging, a warehouse for raw and packaging materials, and an administrative office.

Ferrara CEO Marco Capurso said the Orangeburg facility is expected to expand the company’s manufacturing scale and capability as it responds to consumer demand for sugar confections. The first production lines are expected to be operational in the first quarter of 2029. 

South Carolina officials authorized up to $85 million in state economic-development bonds to help offset costs tied to acquiring and improving the site, the company said in a release. The Coordinating Council for Economic Development also approved job development credits related to the project.

Ferrara, which has been headquartered in Chicago for 118 years, operates more than 30 facilities worldwide. Its U.S. portfolio includes more than 40 brands, including Nerds, SweeTarts, Laffy Taffy, Trolli, Brach’s and Jelly Belly as well as brands sold in Europe and Brazil. 

Ferrara is a privately held, Ferrero-affiliated company.