STRATHAM, N.H. (AP) — Swiss chocolate maker Lindt has finished a big expansion of its New Hampshire factory with the addition of a cocoa-processing plant that's transforming beans into chocolate under one roof in the United States.
It's a milestone for the U.S. headquarters of the company, which is based in Kilchberg, Switzerland. The U.S. factory started small in Stratham in 1989 and now employs about 350 people. It's holding an open house Wednesday.
Before the 350,000-square-foot processing plant was added, the factory would produce the cocoa in Switzerland, then ship it to New Hampshire to mix with other ingredients to produce its truffles. Now, it transports beans from Africa and South America right to Stratham, cutting up to 10,000 travel miles.