EASTON, Pa. — The U.S. arm of Turkey’s largest gummy, licorice and marshmallow candies producer on Thursday broke ground on a new facility in the Lehigh Valley.
Kervan, which expanded to the United States in 2011 with its bulk candy operation, plans a new warehouse, manufacturing, and office space at 142 Commerce Park Drive, Easton.
With heavy equipment running in the background and bright sunlight bearing overhead, Kervan Chief Financial Officer Gokhan Kacmaz and Chief Executive Officer Burak Cezik welcomed local partners who helped get the operation off the ground.
"Hopefully, once we complete this project here in this beautiful location in Lower Nazareth Township and Bethlehem Township, we will create more value for the towns. We will create more jobs, hopefully here, and we will contribute to the society."Kervan Chief Financial Officer Gokhan Kacmaz
The 90,000-square-foot building will consolidate the company’s warehouse, storage and packaging operations, and eventually build out even further.
Kacmaz said the project started about two years ago.
He thanked local politicians, the Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation, Community Bank, county and township officials and Alloy 5 and Forge 39 Construction for their help.
“It's a key milestone event for us, and it was not possible without them," Kacmaz said.
"Hopefully, once we complete this project here in this beautiful location in Lower Nazareth Township and Bethlehem Township, we will create more value for the towns.
"We will create more jobs, hopefully here, and we will contribute to the society."
'We like the area'
Initially, the building will focus on warehousing and packaging, in addition to housing the company’s domestic headquarters.
Full-fledged manufacturing could be coming soon.
The facility will bring in about 50 jobs, including 40 positions for warehouse and packaging and 10 for office duties.
"We like the area: it’s growing, and it is attracting a population to here. The workforce is good, so we would like to invest in here instead of going to another place.”Kervan Chief Financial Officer Gokhan Kacmaz
Kacmaz said Kervan is among the top vendors for Walmart, Dollar Tree, Dollar General and Trader Joe’s, and the Commerce Park facility will help to grow the company even further.
“We are right now exceeding a $50 million revenue threshold, and we are planning to distribute all of the products and package some of the products here in this facility,” Kacmaz said.
“But our midterm target is to reach to $200 million of revenue, and I think it will happen in the next three years. And this investment will also contribute a lot to this ambition.”
Asked why Kervan selected the Lehigh Valley for the new operation, Kacmaz said the proximity to ports such as Newark was a key component, along with a strong local workforce.
“So all this made this location in the Lehigh Valley a really great place to make this investment," Cezik said. "Plus, we had our headquarters since 2011 in the Lehigh Valley.
“In 2017, we moved to Whitehall [Township]. Before that, we were in downtown Bethlehem, so we were in the area.
"And we like the area: it’s growing, and it is attracting a population to here. The workforce is good, so we would like to invest in here instead of going to another place.”
'Trust and partnership built up'
The company’s candy is largely produced in Turkey, Poland and Egypt, and distributed to 90 countries across the globe.
Kervan produces plenty of standard fare — gummy bears and worms, sour gummy candies, fruit rings — and some more unusual designs, including peach penguins, red lobsters and dinosaurs.
It also produces seasonal specialties for Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day and Easter.
Kervan also has partnered with Sunkist and Crayola to produce branded gummy products.
"Thank you for making the county a little bit sweeter.”Northampton County Director of Community and Economic Development Tina Smith
Community Bank's Vice President Market Leader for Commercial Banking Joseph Madison said the choice to work with Kervan on the new project was an easy choice, based on eight years of work together.
"So it's a level of trust and partnership built up," Madison said. "This project hits a lot of buttons for us, and we found a great value.
"Number one, we support the company, the growth division and also the strong management team. And this worked out well for the bank. And it's, again, it's a partnership, and bank relationships matter."
Northampton County Director of Community and Economic Development Tina Smith commended the company for its investment in the community, welcoming a fruitful (gummy) partnership.
“We're happy for the new creation and some new jobs coming forward, and we'll do whatever we can to help and welcome you into the community," Smith said.
"And thank you for making the county a little bit sweeter.”
