Wrigley adds 54 jobs with expansion of local gum, candy plant
County Commission approves state grant
The Wrigley Manufacturing Company will add 54 new jobs locally when a $409,244 expansion of its existing facility is completed.
Hamilton County commissioners approved a grant awarded from Gov. Bill Haslam's FastTrack Infrastructure Development Program to fund the gum and candy company's expansion, including the addition of a rail spur.
Wrigley Manufacturing Company
3002 Jersey Pike
Chattanooga, Tenn.
Company history:
Headquartered in Chicago, Ill., Wrigley operates as a subsidiary of Mars, Inc., a private, family-owned company founded in 1911.
Source: Wrigley.com
"Many many years ago ... people were going to create 100 jobs and they created 10," Commissioner Fred Skillern said. "But this company we have here today, from every report I've seen on (them), they've done what they said they are going to do."
Bruce Verburg, a Wrigley representative, said the company will add 54 new jobs with annual salaries ranging from $48,000 to $69,000 in the next three years. Verburg said the company is closing other facilities and within the next few months the Jersey Pike location will have have complete capacity for the North American market.
Mayor Jim Coppinger said the county appreciated the Wrigley investment.
"We're proud of the expansion and we're glad you chose Hamilton County," Coppinger said at a recent commission meeting. "This represents a $23 million capital investment and we know you had other opportunities."
Verburg said construction is underway.
"We are on track and we are anxious to start on our rail spur," Verburg said.
