A Turkish maker of gummy, licorice and marshmallow candies plans to establish a new manufacturing operation in eastern Pennsylvania, local economic development officials announced late last month.
Kervan USA expects to invest $20 million to consolidate its Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania, U.S. headquarters, along with its New Jersey packaging and distribution operations, in a new 90,000-square-foot facility in Lower Nazareth and Bethlehem townships.
The new hub is expected to open next year and create about 40 jobs. The company currently employs a staff of 10 at its nearby headquarters, the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp. said.
Kervan officials cited the Lehigh Valley’s growing population as well as its proximity to East Coast ports for its decision to establish production in the area. Local officials also noted that the region is within a day’s drive of about one-third of the U.S. population.
“This location made perfect sense, both proximity to the ports and the workforce,” Kervan USA CFO Gokhan Kacmaz said at a June 26 groundbreaking ceremony. “We saw a big opportunity.”
Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp.
Local officials said that the Lehigh Valley’s food and beverage production workforce has risen by more than 50% in the last decade.
