The Daily Dig
Ferrara Candy Company is establishing its first South Carolina operation with a $675 million manufacturing facility in Orangeburg County, one of the more significant food and beverage construction commitments in the region in recent memory.
The facility will sit at the intersection of Highway 21 and Rowesville Road and come in at 750,000 square feet. The scope includes processing and packaging space, raw and pack material warehousing, and an administrative office. First production lines are targeting Q1 2029.
The project is expected to generate 1,000 manufacturing and corporate jobs over the next 10 years. State backing is substantial. The State Fiscal Accountability Authority authorized up to $85 million in General Obligation State Economic Development Bonds to cover site acquisition, site improvements, and related infrastructure. The Coordinating Council for Economic Development also approved job development credits tied to the project.
Ferrara is a 118-year-old, Chicago-headquartered company with more than 9,400 employees and a portfolio of more than 40 brands including Nerds, SweeTarts, Laffy Taffy, Brach's, and Trolli. It operates more than 30 facilities worldwide and is a privately held company affiliated with Ferrero.
Snapshot:
Company: Ferrara Candy Company
Parent Affiliation: Ferrero (privately held)
HQ: Chicago, IL
Project Location: Highway 21 and Rowesville Road, Orangeburg County, SC
Facility Size: 750,000 SF
Scope: Manufacturing (processing and packaging), raw and pack material warehouse, administrative office
Investment: $675 million
Jobs Created: 1,000 manufacturing and corporate jobs over 10 years
First Production Target: Q1 2029
State Bond Authorization: Up to $85 million (General Obligation State Economic Development Bonds)
Additional Incentives: Job development credits via Coordinating Council for Economic Development
Sector: Food and beverage manufacturing
TheJobWalk Thoughts
A 750,000 SF food manufacturing build is a serious program. Expect heavy mechanical, refrigeration, and process piping scopes alongside the structural and envelope work. For MEP and specialty contractors in the Southeast, this is a project worth tracking early. Procurement conversations on a facility this size typically start well before groundbreaking.
The Q1 2029 production target is tight given where the project stands today. Subs bidding this work should price schedule pressure accordingly. State-backed bond financing generally signals the project is moving with political momentum behind it, which can help but does not insulate the schedule from design or permitting delays.
Food and beverage manufacturing is proving to be one of the more durable construction sectors right now. If your business development team is not already cultivating relationships with the GCs likely to pursue this, start now.
