Ferrara Candy to invest $675M in Orangeburg County

 

The maker of some of the most familiar brands on the candy aisle plans to sweeten the air and the employment rolls in Orangeburg County.

Ferrara Candy Co, a sugar confectioner in the United States, Brazil and Europe, says it will its first South Carolina operation with a $675 million investment that will created 1,000 manufacturing and corporate jobs over the next 10 years.

Headquartered in Chicago for 118 years, Ferrara operates a network of more than 30 facilities worldwide and employs more than 9,400 people, according to the South Carolina Department of Commerce. Its products are sold in more than 60 countries and span a portfolio of more than 40 iconic brands including Nerds, SweeTarts, Laffy Taffy, Trolli, Brach’s, Jelly Belly in the United States; Terry’s and Carambar in Europe; and Dori in Brazil. Ferrara is a privately held Ferrero-affiliated company.

Ferrara’s new operation will be located at Highway 21 and Rowesville Road in Orangeburg, where the company plans to construct a 750,000-square-foot manufacturing facility including processing and packaging, a warehouse for raw and pack materials, and an administrative office, according to a news release. The investment will support Ferrara’s high level of consumer demand and strengthen its position as a leader in sugar confections, the company says.

“Our new Orangeburg facility represents a major step forward in transforming Ferrara’s manufacturing scale and capability, positioning the company for long-term global leadership,” CEO Marco Capurso said in the release. “We are excited about the opportunity to inspire sweetness in the Palmetto State, and we are grateful to the leadership of Gov. McMaster, Secretary Lightsey and their teams, and the Orangeburg County officials, in their partnership and effort to bring us to South Carolina.”

The first production lines in the new facility are expected to be operational in the first quarter of 2029, and the company is hiring through ReadySC. The company also will be seeking suppliers and vendors.

After the Joint Bond Review Committee recommended approval, the State Fiscal Accountability Authority authorized the issuance of General Obligation State Economic Development Bonds in a principal amount not exceeding $85 million to offset the cost of acquiring the site, site improvements and related infrastructure.

“Today marks a transformative moment for Orangeburg County and all of South Carolina,” Gov. Henry McMaster said in the release. “Ferrara Candy Company’s $675 million investment in the Midlands is a powerful vote of confidence in our state that will bring many new opportunities for our people. We are proud Ferrara has chosen South Carolina as a place to build their future and look forward to the company’s continued success here.”

The Commerce Department’s Coordinating Council for Economic Development also approved job development credits related to the project.

“We are excited to welcome Ferrara Candy Co. to the Palmetto State,” Commerce Secretary Harry M. Lightsey III said in the release. “This milestone investment in Orangeburg County, as well as the addition of 1,000 new quality jobs in South Carolina, is set to transform the community, strengthen the workforce and fuel economic prosperity for generations to come.”
County Council Chairman Johnnie Wright took part in the announcement.

“Orangeburg County is excited to add Ferrara Candy Co. to a growing list of international companies that have discovered the advantages we offer business and industry,” he said in the release. “We look forward to partnering with them as we strive together to make our community a better place to live and work.”

County Administrator Harold Young said Orangeburg County put in the work to earn an investment of this scale.

“Ferrara Candy Company’s $675 million investment and the creation of 1,000 jobs mark a significant moment for Orangeburg County,” Young said in a separate news release from the Orangeburg County Development Commission. “This is the kind of project that expands opportunities for our residents and strengthens what we’re able to support as a county. We’ve put in the work to be ready for an investment of this scale, and we will continue doing our part to ensure it delivers long-term benefits for the people of Orangeburg County.”

The general manager of Orangeburg Department of Public Utilities said his department has been working on that site specifically.

“The city of Orangeburg’s Department of Public Utilities is proud that this transformational company has chosen our community,” Warren Harley said in the release. “We have prepared for this day by making significant investments in our infrastructure in the area of their planned location. Our team, in coordination with their consultants, has spent countless hours making sure that the DPU was the perfect choice for this project. We believe this announcement to be one of many future successes for our community. The DPU is committed to being ready, willing and able to assist state, county and local development in coordinating with various projects to better understand the value of locating here. We truly welcome them to Orangeburg and look forward to a long and prosperous partnership.”

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