Kervan invests $20M to open candy manufacturing facility in Pennsylvania 

Kervan invests $20M to open candy manufacturing facility in Pennsylvania 

Aug. 1, 2025
The company will consolidate packaging and distribution operations and create 40 new jobs in the Lehigh Valley. 

Kervan USA has announced plans to open a new packaging and manufacturing facility in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. The company, which produces gummy, licorice, and marshmallow candies, is investing $20 million in the new 90,000-square-foot building and will add approximately 40 new employees to its Lehigh Valley workforce. 

The new facility will consolidate Kervan USA’s current packaging and distribution operations from New Jersey and eventually support local manufacturing. Products manufactured under the Bebeto and Yumy Yumy brands will be imported through the port in Newark, New Jersey, and packaged at the Lehigh Valley site for distribution. The company selected the location for its proximity to ports, access to a strong workforce, and cost advantages compared to New Jersey. 

What people are saying 

In a recent quote, Gokhan Kacmaz, Chief Financial Officer, Kervan USA, said, “This location made perfect sense, both proximity to the ports and the workforce. We saw a big opportunity. All this made the Lehigh Valley a great location to make this investment.” 

Doug Warfel, Director of Attraction and Lending at Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC), added, “The advantages that Kervan USA identified in the Lehigh Valley are what make the region a hub for food and beverage manufacturing. The location between New York and Philadelphia provides access to multiple ports and international airports and is within a day’s drive of one-third of the U.S. population, making it easy for manufacturers to get their products to market.” 

Manufacturers investing in Pennsylvania 

Berner International invests $15.4M to expand air curtain manufacturing facility in Pennsylvania
The facility will feature advanced manufacturing technologies to support increased production and logistics operations. 

Chelsea Building Products invests in new 228,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Pennsylvania 
The new plant will blend compound materials and increase production of PVC window and door profiles. 

Bayer invests $44M to expand consumer health product manufacturing facility in Pennsylvania
The expansion strengthens Bayer’s ability to deliver health-focused products more efficiently across North America.

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 Gajewski | Senior Content Strategist

Alexis Gajewski has over 15 years of experience in the maintenance, reliability, operations, and manufacturing space. She joined Plant Services in 2008 and works to bring readers the news, insight, and information they need to make the right decisions for their plants. Alexis also authors “The Lighter Side of Manufacturing,” a blog that highlights the fun and innovative advances in the industrial sector. 

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