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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company Invests $50 Million To Expand Production At Its Yorkville, Illinois, Manufacturing Center

05/29/2014
Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company plans to invest approximately $50 million to expand its Yorkville, Illinois, manufacturing center and add production of Skittles candy, one of the world’s most popular candy brands. The expansion will help Wrigley create 75 permanent manufacturing jobs.

“Wrigley has called Illinois home for more than 100 years,” Kevin Fitzpatrick, Vice President of Supply Chain for Wrigley North America, said. “We have a century-long track record of creating jobs, growing the economy and supporting our local communities in the greater Chicago area. With the expansion of our Skittles production in Illinois, we are proud to continue that tradition. In partnership with the state, we will be able to offer high-quality manufacturing jobs and ensure that the Yorkville facility has an opportunity to grow.”

“More people worldwide are enjoying Skittles than ever before – something we’re very proud of,” Fitzpatrick said. “The increased demand creates a need for new production systems. We’re thrilled to bring a fresh opportunity to share Wrigley’s growth with our home state of Illinois.”

Wrigley’s Yorkville plant manufactures some of the company’s most well-known brands including Juicy Fruit, Doublemint and Life Savers. Wrigley will break ground on the expansion in a few weeks and start production by the end of 2015.

“The Wrigley company has been a strong business partner of the state of Illinois for more than a century,” Governor Pat Quinn said. “This major expansion will mean even more jobs and economic growth for a company whose roots run deep in Illinois. The Wrigley Company knows firsthand that Illinois’ skilled workforce is second to none, and there is no better place in the world to grow.”

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is supporting the expansion with $2 million in tax incentives through the Economic Development for a Growing Economy program, which provides companies with a credit against their state income tax liability. The credit is offered to companies as an incentive to build or expand in Illinois when they are considering other states.

DCEO will also invest $250,000 in construction expenses and $37,500 in job training to assist in the expansion. The company plans to expand its Yorkville plant by 145,000 square feet.

“For Wrigley, the decision to expand in Illinois was clear,” DCEO Director Adam Pollet said. “Nowhere else offers the skilled workforce, the logistical advantages and the quality of life. Putting down more roots here makes sense for Wrigley’s operations and for employee recruitment.”

“Yorkville has been the proud home of the Wrigley manufacturing facility since 1995 and we are very excited about the expansion of the facility to accommodate the worldwide growth of Skittles,” Yorkville Mayor Gary Golinski said. “Wrigley's confidence in Yorkville reaffirms that Yorkville continues to be a great choice for manufacturing and industry with a strong local workforce. We look forward to our continued partnership as Yorkville and Wrigley continue to grow together.”

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