Blow Pops manufacturer invests $97.7M to expand production plant and distribution center in Tennessee
Charms LLC has announced plans to expand operations at its Covington, Tennessee, facility. The company, which manufactures various candies, including Blow Pops, will invest $97.7 million into the project, creating 62 new jobs in the process. The expansion of its manufacturing plant and distribution center in Covington will bring Charms’ total employee count to nearly 500 workers.
What people are saying
In a recent quote, Charms Plant Manager HT Davis said, “We are very excited about the opportunity to grow our presence in the town of Covington. We are extremely proud to be a part of this community and are looking forward to future growth together. This plant addition will enable us to expand our manufacturing operations and help us to better serve our customers.”
Governor Bill Lee added, “Our state is defined by well-known brands like Charms that call Tennessee home, and I am grateful to take part in announcing another expansion for Charms and Tootsie Roll Industries. These new jobs will greatly impact the Tennesseans across Tipton County for years to come.”
TNECD Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter said, “Charms and Tootsie Roll Industries have been valued partners to our state for more than 50 years, and today’s announcement is a testament to the diligent local leaders for bringing this expansion to fruition. It’s an honor to announce Tipton County’s first project since 2019, and we look forward to seeing the success that follows today’s announcement.”
Manufacturers investing in Tennessee
ABB invests $120M to increase manufacturing of low-voltage electrification products in the U.S.
Of the total investment, $80 million will be used to build a new advanced manufacturing facility in Selmer, Tennessee.
ALUKO Group invests $36.3M to build its first U.S. manufacturing plant in Tennessee
The new plant will produce aluminum battery casings for operations at Ford Motor Company’s BlueOval City.
BlueOval SK receives $9.63B to build 3 battery manufacturing plants in Tennessee and Kentucky
The new facilities, which will be located in Tennessee and Kentucky, will produce batteries for Ford Motor Company’s future Ford and Lincoln EVs.
Investing in American manufacturing in 2025
This map shows where manufacturers are choosing to invest their resources, whether they are building new production facilities or expanding existing plants.
About the Author
Alexis GajewskiAlexis Gajewski
Senior Content Strategist
Alexis Gajewski is a manufacturing writer and editor with nearly 20 years of experience covering the people, practices, and technologies that keep industrial facilities running. For more than a decade, she served as Senior Content Strategist for Plant Services, creating content for plant managers, engineers, and maintenance professionals on a variety of industrial topics.
During her tenure, Alexis worked to develop the brand’s digital strategy and helped launch and produce Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast. She also created The Lighter Side of Manufacturing, a weekly blog that explored the inventive and sometimes humorous side of the industry.
Alexis co-founded Influential Women in Manufacturing, a recognition program that honored 49 women in its first two years, earned an industry award for Best Product Launch, and received a proclamation from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and a commendation from U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth.
She also led newsroom operations and development at a large media company where she set editorial standards, developed training curriculum, and helped support AI adoption for more than 150 editors across 80+ brands spanning manufacturing, industrial processing, automation, and more.
Additionally, Alexis works as a freelance writer and editor, and her areas of interest include continuous improvement, the skilled workforce, and the role of emerging technology on the plant floor.
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