Church & Dwight to expand gummy vitamin production capabilities in US

Church & Dwight is planning to expand its gummy vitamin production capabilities with a new production line at its manufacturing facility in Pennsylvania.

The company will invest $55m for the expansion project, which will provide employment to around 180 people.

Construction of the production line will start in January 2014, and is scheduled to go onstream in the first quarter of 2015.

Church & Dwight said that the project will help expand its production capacity by 75% and drive long-term goals for revenue and earnings growth.

In support of the project, the company has been awarded an economic development assistance package from the Commonwealth.

Church & Dwight chairman and CEO James R Craigie said that the gummy vitamin business is strategically important to the company and is expected to be a significant contributor to the future growth of sales.

“Our gummy vitamin sales are growing at a 20% rate to approximately $300m in annual net sales in 2013,” Craigie said.

The company expects double-digit sales growth for gummy vitamin in 2014 and believes that the future prospects of the gummy vitamin segment are strong as more consumers are switching to gummy vitamins.

Headquartered in Ewing, New Jersey, Church & Dwight produces a wide range of personal care, household and specialty products, including sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) under its Arm & Hammer brand.