Pittsburgh area confectioner Edward Marc Brands Inc. is significantly increasing its production capacity as a result of strong retail demand for a salty/sweet product known as Snappers.
The firm is leasing a 50,000 sq. ft. building that formerly housed a print shop in Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood to ramp up production of Snappers, a pretzel coated with chocolate, caramel or both. The facility is expected to begin production in January.
Founded 100 years ago in the same neighborhood, Edward Marc currently manufactures confections in a 3,000 sq. ft. plant in Trafford, Pa. Production will continue in that facility, and the company has pledged to retain the 36 jobs in Trafford and promised to hire at least an additional 51 workers in Lawrenceville as a condition for a state economic package worth $674,000.
Edward Marc will invest $2.5 million in the new site. A $500,000 loan for machinery and equipment constitutes the bulk of the state aid, with the balance in the form of grants and tax credits.
