So Sweet
There are no comments for this page [ Add Comment ]Friday, February 22, 2008
By MARSHALL THOMPSON
Standard-Examiner staff
BDO ready to greet Hershey Company with a kiss
OGDEN -- The Hershey Company, which manufactures some of America's favorite chocolate treats, accepted Utah's economic incentive Thursday to set up a distribution center at the Business Depot Ogden.
The incentive plan, which the Governor's Office of Economic Development approved in October, gives Hershey $2.6 million over 10 years to operate a $38 million distribution hub out of Ogden. The GOED expects the center to employ 123 workers and generate $13 million in new revenue for the state in the next 10 years.
"Our productive work force, superior location and transportation infrastructure, along with an unparalleled quality of life, will continue to keep Utah in the forefront as one of America's best states for business," Gov. Jon Huntsman said in a news release. "Hershey will be a great addition to the growing and vibrant Ogden community."
The new center will serve the Western United States, according to the release, part of a plan to make distribution more flexible and efficient.
The Hershey Company, based in Pennsylvania, has revenues nearing $5 billion and employs about 13,000 people worldwide.
One of North America's largest chocolate manufacturers, the company produces Hershey's Kisses, Reese's, Kit Kat, Twizzlers and other well-known treats.
"They plan to break ground in early March," said Dave Harmer, Ogden's community and economic development director. "Their target completion date is in October or sometime in the fall."
Harmer added that many businesses are attracted to BDO because of its easy access to an interstate highway and rail service.
"We're very pleased to be building Hershey's new distribution center in Ogden," David J. West, president and CEO of Hershey, said in a prepared statement.
"I want to thank the state of Utah and the city of Ogden for their support. Our new distribution center represents a significant investment in Utah and will contribute to Hershey's long-term success by enabling us to meet the needs of our customers."
Employees at the Hershey distribution center would earn on average $36,829 annually, which is 149 percent of Weber County's median wage, according to the GOED.
The distribution center will be near 400 North and 700 West in BDO, said Steve Waldrip, project manager for The Boyer Co., which manages BDO. Southern Foods, which manufactures chocolate for Hershey, will be on Depot Drive, less than 10 minutes away, he added.
"It's obviously something we're very excited about," he said. "Having Hershey Company at the business depot will bring jobs and investments into our community."
This story was updated at 12:30 a.m Friday, February 22, 2008
Hershey's to build a distribution center in Ogden, create 125 jobs
OGDEN -- Ogden is getting sweeter.
With a financial incentive from the state of Utah, The Hershey Co. says it will build a distribution center in Ogden.
The center will create about 125 full-time jobs. Hershey is expected to invest $38 million.
The Pennsylvania company is the nation's largest candymaker, know for Hershey's Kisses, Reese's, Kit Kat bars and Twizzlers licorice. Hershey had nearly $5 billion in revenue last year and employs about 13,000 people worldwide.
Construction will start in spring. The incentive offered to Hershey is worth as much as $2.6 million.
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