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J.M. Smucker plans to spend $120 million to expand production at its Hostess manufacturing plant in Columbus, Georgia.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The investment will go toward the construction of a new building, renovation of certain areas of the facility and new equipment, according to Pace Halter, chairman of Choose Columbus, the city\u2019s economic development group.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Construction to support the expanded capacity has begun and is expected to be completed by early 2027. The food giant said the investment will create at least 48 new jobs.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe are pleased to have this opportunity to expand production at our Columbus, Georgia, manufacturing facility to continue to meet the needs of our consumers,\u201d Beaux Williamson, facility manager for J.M. Smucker, said in a statement.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Hostess, which makes Twinkies, Donettes and Ho Hos, was <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>purchased by Smucker two years ago for $5.6 billion<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> to help build the jam maker\u2019s presence in indulgent snacking and add more consumer occasions focused on convenience.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n But since then, inflation, economic uncertainty and the growing use of appetite-suppressing GLP-1 drugs have weighed on the brand.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Barron\u2019s noted that Smucker has taken <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>nearly $2 billion in write-downs<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> related to its Hostess investment. The company <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>told Wall Street in September<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> that it reduced Hostess\u2019 SKU count by 25% to help stabilize the brand and better position it for growth.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Similar to other food and beverage companies, Smucker has been opening, expanding and closing facilities to meet demand for its products and improve the efficiency of its supply chain.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n In May, Smucker said it would<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>close and pursue a sale of a Hostess manufacturing plant in Indianapolis<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> by early 2026. It also spent an estimated <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>$1.1 billion to open a third plant<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> dedicated to manufacturing its fast-growing Uncrustables brand last year.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n