The Columbus expansion
J.M. Smucker planned to invest $120 million in its Hostess plant in Columbus, Georgia. Manufacturing Dive reported on 6 October 2025 that construction had begun. The programme included a new building, renovation of existing areas and additional equipment, according to Choose Columbus chairman Pace Halter. Facility manager Beaux Williamson said the expansion would help meet consumers’ needs.
- Planned completion: early 2027.
- Expected additional jobs: at least 48.
How the plant joined the group
Smucker completed its acquisition of Hostess Brands on 7 November 2023, following the agreement announced that September. The transaction included Hostess sweet baked snacks and Voortman cookies, alongside factories in Emporia, Kansas; Burlington, Ontario; Chicago, Illinois; Columbus, Georgia; Indianapolis, Indiana; and Arkadelphia, Arkansas. At the time, Arkadelphia was under construction. The deal also included a distribution facility in Edgerton, Kansas. The company said approximately 3,000 employees would join the group. Chief executive Mark Smucker described Hostess’s convenience-store distribution and manufacturing capabilities as complementary to Smucker’s grocery and mass-retail relationships.
The earlier consolidation decision
On 27 May 2025, Smucker announced plans to close its Indianapolis Hostess manufacturing facility and consolidate operations into other existing plants. Closure and efforts to sell the facility were scheduled for early calendar 2026. Judd Freitag, senior vice president and general manager for Pet and Sweet Baked Snacks, said the decision aimed to reduce costs and manufacturing-network complexity while stabilising Hostess and positioning it for long-term growth. He said the company would support affected employees through the transition. Additional information was due with the fiscal 2025 fourth-quarter results.
The segment’s latest reported quarter
The company’s release of 27 August 2025 covered the quarter ended 31 July, the first quarter of fiscal 2026. Sweet Baked Snacks recorded net sales of $253.2 million and segment profit of $34.2 million, with a 13.5% segment margin. Reported sales fell 24%; excluding businesses sold, the decline was 10%. The company attributed eight percentage points of the comparable sales decline to volume and mix and two to price realisation, principally reflecting snack cakes. It attributed lower segment profit to divested operations, unfavourable volume and mix, and higher costs.
Company contacts
The J.M. Smucker Co.
Corporate contact directory: One Strawberry Lane, Orrville, Ohio 44667-0280.
Phone: 330-682-3000.
Website: https://www.jmsmucker.com/
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