The Hershey Company on April 16 opened its new state-of-the-art Reese Chocolate Processing (RCP) facility during a ribbon cutting ceremony at its headquarters in Dauphin County, Pa.
The new Hershey’s facility is the company’s first fully-integrated digital manufacturing plant and the first new manufacturing facility built at its headquarters in over three decades.
“Our ability to make and deliver products both quickly and efficiently is a key component of our growth strategy,” said Will Bonifant, Hershey’s vice president of supply chain strategy and manufacturing. “We’ve made significant investments to speed production, increase capacity, and develop our workforce for the future to make more of the iconic brands consumers love.”
Michele Buck, president and CEO of The Hershey Company, joined Gov. Josh Shapiro and other elected leaders to open the new 250,000-square-feet chocolate processing facility that sits on a 55-acre site — large enough to hold five NFL football fields — between the Hershey Technical Center and the existing Reese’s plant, located at 1000 Reese Avenue. It will produce the chocolate used in a variety of beloved brands including Reese’s, KitKat, Symphony, and Special Dark.
The facility is part of Hershey’s broader $1 billion investment strategy, which includes the addition of 13 new production lines and upgrades to 11 existing lines across North American facilities. The plant will support more than 125 new jobs and build on Hershey’s legacy as a major employer in Pennsylvania, where the company already supports over 6,000 jobs.
The Shapiro administration said it played a critical role in the project’s success by helping Hershey secure key permits — including the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit — enabling the timely construction and operation of the plant.
Since Shapiro took office, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has improved review timeframes for this permit type by 15 percent, cutting the average approval process by eight days, according to his staff.
The opening of the RCP facility marks the latest milestone in the commonwealth’s long-standing partnership with The Hershey Company.
Since 2012, state-supported projects in Lebanon and Dauphin counties have retained thousands of jobs and delivered more than $400 million in capital investment. Today, Hershey’s portfolio includes more than 100 global brands, with an expanded footprint into savory snacks. Products are sold in approximately 80 countries worldwide — with the U.S. accounting for the majority of the company’s $11.2 billion in 2023 revenue.