The Hershey Company has officially opened its most advanced facility yet—a digitally integrated new Reese chocolate processing plant in the heart of Pennsylvania (USA).
The new Reese Chocolate Processing (RCP) facility marks a major milestone in The Hershey Company’s $1 billion investment strategy across North America. Located on a 55-acre site between the Hershey Technical Center and the existing Reese’s plant in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania (USA), the facility is expected to support over 125 new jobs and significantly increase production of key brands, including Reese’s, KitKat, Symphony, and Special Dark.
This state-of-the-art facility is Hershey’s first fully digitally integrated manufacturing plant, featuring high levels of automation and cutting-edge digital systems. It represents a critical step in the company’s digital manufacturing roadmap and plays a central role in modernizing operations, while reinforcing Hershey’s position as one of Pennsylvania’s largest and most enduring employers.
Governor Josh Shapiro joined Hershey President and CEO Michele Buck and other elected officials for a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the opening of the facility—the first new manufacturing site built at Hershey’s headquarters in more than three decades. Governor Shapiro highlighted the project as a major win for Pennsylvania’s workforce and economy, noting that the plant’s rapid construction timeline was supported by his administration’s permitting reforms and streamlined regulatory processes.
The RCP facility, completed in under two and a half years, showcases the results of improved permit coordination. Since late 2022, construction crews have been working on a new endeavor downtown code-named “Project Milton.” According to the Department of Environmental Protection, permitting review times have been reduced by 15 percent, saving an average of eight days per permit. The plant’s swift completion demonstrates the success of this broader statewide effort to accelerate economic development.
“This is a major investment in our future,” said Will Bonifant, Hershey’s Vice President of Supply Chain Strategy and Manufacturing. He emphasized that the new plant increases production speed, enhances capacity, and strengthens workforce development efforts. The facility currently employs nearly 100 people, with plans to hire about 125 by the time full operations begin next summer—and potentially double that number as production scales.
The plant is designed not only to meet rising demand but also to adapt to evolving consumer trends. It enhances Hershey’s operational flexibility and supports greater agility across its supply chain network. In addition to Reese’s, the RCP will produce KitKat and other Hershey brand products.
Company officials noted that the plant will use hundreds of millions of pounds of milk from Pennsylvania dairy farmers each year, reinforcing Hershey’s commitment to supporting local agriculture and the broader food manufacturing supply chain.
The new facility also reflects Hershey’s commitment to employee-centered innovation. Interest from current staff has been strong, thanks to features like digital scheduling tools, labor management systems, and opportunities for equitable career development and advancement.
The RCP is part of Hershey’s larger operational expansion, which includes plans to add 13 new production lines and upgrade 11 existing ones across its North American network. The Reese facility also reflects Hershey’s broader operational growth. The company plans to add 13 new production lines and upgrade 11 existing lines throughout its North American network. In Pennsylvania alone, Hershey supports over 6,000 jobs.
Founded in 1894, Hershey began producing chocolate in Derry Township in the early 1900s. Today, its products are sold in about 80 countries, with the U.S. accounting for the majority of the company’s $11.2 billion in revenue in 2023.
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