Return of Hershey’s to Smiths Falls a big boom to the town says mayor

Mayor Shawn Pankow announces the return of Hershey to Smiths Falls, August 2023.

Hershey’s coming home. Canopy Growth announced Thursday morning a $53 million deal with the chocolate giant to sell the building at 1 Hershey Drive for production to resume 15 years after the company left the town for Mexico.

The deal comes just six months after Canopy announced mass layoffs and the closure of that site and in turn downsizing their presence in Smiths Falls.

Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston MP Scott Reid, Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston MPP John Jordan, Smiths Falls Mayor Shawn Pankow and councillors Jay Brennan and Steven Robinson were in front of town square to make remarks about the sale and future of the town.

Pankow told Lake 88 the site had lots of interest early on in the sale process, but not many were interested in using the entirety of the 600,000 square foot facility.

Pankow was also asked what will be different with the Hershey plant this time around.

It was a turbulent six years of operations for Canopy, but Pankow says they played a significant role in the revitalization of the town as the largest employer.

Pankow says there’s no word yet on an opening date or how many jobs the plant will bring back to the town, but expects that information to trickle in in the weeks ahead.

Hershey’s initially began producing in Smiths Falls in 1962 and continued until 2007.

Story by Grant Deme