The Hershey Company Produces Sweet Success in Virginia
Summary
- Hershey Chocolate of Virginia has operated its plant in Augusta County since 1980.
- Hershey has continued to grow in the Commonwealth, expanding 10 times since the facility opened.
- The most recent investment, in 2020, was a $135M expansion to expand production capacity at the facility.
- Hershey benefits from a strong local workforce — the Shenandoah Valley is Virginia’s top region for total value of agricultural products sold.
A 45-Year History of Expansion
Since 1980, Hershey Chocolate of Virginia, Inc. has called Augusta County in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley home. The Stuarts Draft facility is Hershey’s second-largest in the United States and primarily produces Hershey’s peanut-based products, such as Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.
Between 1980 and 2020, Hershey Chocolate of Virginia has grown in size, increased production, invested in new machinery, supported the surrounding community, and now employs more than 1,500 Virginians.
Today, the company runs both the Stuarts Draft Plant and the Roasting Center for Excellence, another expansion Augusta successfully won after a competitive national search.
A Shenandoah Specialty
The Shenandoah Valley is the No.1 region in Virginia for total value of agricultural products sold. The region boasts plentiful natural resources, trainable talent, and powerful employers rooted in food and beverage production. It also boasts 11 colleges and universities as well as seven career and technical centers that strengthen the local workforce.
This has proven to be an essential talent pipeline, connecting area students to Hershey’s custom boot camp, which is designed to prepare candidates with no previous experience for Hershey’s Industrial Manufacturing Technician apprenticeship program.
Coupled with easy access to Interstates 81 and 64, inexpensive cost of living and doing business, friendly communities, and a scenic environment, it’s no surprise that the valley is a prime location to live, work, and in Hershey’s case, establish a national base of operations.
Peanuts! Get Your Peanuts Here!
Virginia’s fertile business climate has spurred Hershey’s growth in the Commonwealth, averaging a new expansion nearly every three years. But Virginia also offers natural resources that ease production costs, including peanuts — Virginia is one of the most efficient growing states, trailing only Arkansas in pounds of nuts per acre, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data. The city of Suffolk in the Hampton Roads region bills itself as the “Peanut Capital of the World,” while nearby Sussex County was the site of the first commercial peanut crop in the United States
The Stuarts Draft production facility is essential to the production of Hershey’s most popular peanut products, and the Augusta County operation produces 15 of these brands, including Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Reese’s Take 5, WHATCHAMACALLIT chocolate bars, flavor-filled Hershey’s Kisses, and Reese’s Pieces.
Home Sweet Home
The 2020 announcement represents the 10th expansion and largest investment yet in the Stuarts Draft campus, increasing manufacturing capacity for the products the world knows and loves.
The Shenandoah Valley has been an excellent place for Hershey to do business and be a part of the community for nearly 40 years now. We are proud to continue to invest and grow in an area that gives our employees a great place to live and work.
Jason Reiman
Senior Vice President & Chief Supply Chain Officer, The Hershey Company
The Hershey Company is North America’s leading chocolate producer and a global snacks company. In 2024, the company celebrated the 130th anniversary of producing its iconic brands, including Hershey’s, Reese’s, Kit Kat, Jolly Rancher, Ice Breakers, SkinnyPop, and Pirate’s Booty.
Hershey Chocolate of Virginia by the numbers
expansions of Hershey's Stuarts Draft plant since 1980
combined capital investment in 2019 and 2020 expansions
Virginians employed at the Stuarts Draft facility
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