Gummy bears
A marijuana-infused sour gummy bear candy (L) is shown next to a regular one at right in a photo illustration in Golden, Colorado. Reuters/Rick Wilking

Haribo, an international candy company, is set to build a factory in Wisconsin, its first outside of Europe. The new plant will stand in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, and is expected to be completed by 2020.

The news was announced by Mark Maley, a spokesman for the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. He said at least 400 people will be hired to make gummy bears. He added that Haribo will obtain subsidies from Wisconsin, although the size and structure of the plant is still under negotiations.

In a press conference, Governor Scott Walker expressed gratitude towards Haribo for choosing Wisconsin. “On behalf of the state, I want to thank HARIBO for its decision to establish its North American manufacturing operations in Kenosha County, and I applaud the company for its commitment to Wisconsin,” the governor said.

Rick LaBerge, Executive Vice President and COO at HARIBO of America Inc., said choosing the perfect location in the US for the new plant has been an “elaborate process” and it took them several years before arriving at the decision. “We have examined many different sites,” LaBerge said in a statement.

Executive Vice President and CFO at HARIBO of America Inc. Wes Saber said Wisconsin provides ideal conditions to further advance the business in the US. “We are embarking on building one of the largest facilities in the confectionery industry,” CBS News quotes him.

Haribo spokesman Keith Danoff said the new factory will be "one of the largest sites in the confectionery industry."The company said its annual revenue exceeds US$1.25 billion (AU$1.64 billion) in 16 facilities across Europe. It is best known for its “Gold Bear” gummies. The company currently employs almost 7,000 people worldwide and is leading the fruit gum and liquorice industry.

Meanwhile, Haribo of America has announced that Eric Gafkjen is now the new vice president of sales. “Eric has made an immediate and significant impact on the HARIBO Convenience business since joining the company, enabling HARIBO to be named the fast growing sugar confection brand in the US,” Rick LaBerge, chief operating officer of HARIBO of America, said.

Gafkjen started out in Haribo as a director of sales over the convenience and other segments of the business. In Jan. 1, 2017, he was promoted to his new role in the company. His work profile also includes having worked for Nestle Professional, as well as Agropur. He will now lead the US sales team across all channels of business.