The Lemonheads owner will increase capacity at its Bellwood, Illinois, plant and will open a packaging center in Bolingbrook, Illinois, creating 100 jobs in the next 18 months.
Walmart’s made-in America initiative
The Walmart partnership forms part of the retailers’ commitment to buy American-made products.
In January 2013 Walmart committed to buying an additional $250bn in products produced in America by 2023 to support U.S.-based manufacturing.
“While Ferrara has supplied U.S.-produced confectionery items to Walmart for many years, this partnership will enable Ferrara to manufacture an even greater range of American products. The company expects the U.S.-made Ferrara candies to be available in Walmart stores this summer,” said Ferrara Candy in a release.
Last month Walmart named Ferrara Candy as its food division Made in the USA Supplier of the Year.
Closures after merger
The Ferrara Pan Candy Company merged with fellow US firm Farley's & Sathers Candy Company in 2012.
Soon after the merger was announced the firm announced plans to close Farley’s & Sathers’ Round Lake facility in Minnesota and a packaging and distribution in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
In April 2014, the company leased a 750,000 square-foot facility in Bolingbrook.