Taste of Nature Inc. is opening a new manufacturing facility in an effort to grow its panned chocolate confections and increase its cotton candy production and the capacity of its Shari Candies peg bag line.

The company has purchased a 60,000-sq.-ft. facility in the Chicago suburb of Melrose Park for an undisclosed price.

“The facility gives us room to grow our lineup of theatre boxes, peg bags, cotton candies, laydown bags and novelty items,” says Douglas Chu, Taste of Nature’s co-founder.

The company’s chocolate panning operations is slated to be finished by the end of the first quarter, with equipment for an additional line expected to be installed in March.

With the new facility, Taste of Nature has also expanded its workforce, hiring 40 additional workers in the facility.

“[We] want the ability to support the growth our business,” says co-founder Scott Samet.

Founded in 1992, Taste of Nature Inc. is a growing candy and snack food manufacturing company, offering fun and innovative products found on store shelves nationwide. The company manufactures and markets a large variety of proprietary and licensed brands such as Mike and Ike, Hot Tamales and Cookies N’ Cream Bites.