El Paso, Texas-based Mount Franklin Foods, LLC, has purchased a Sumter, S.C. plant formerly belonging to Au’some Candy Co.

Through an investment expected to total $10 million, the plant will be updated with state-of-the-art equipment, allowing Mount Franklin to add vitamin gummies and other fortified products, as well as organic and natural fruit snack items, to its product portfolio.

The Sumter plant will become the company’s fifth manufacturing facility and is its first one in the United States. Plans call for the new plant to be operational by the end of the second quarter of 2017, which will lead to the creation of at least 225 new jobs. Mount Franklin has acquired all of the equipment and is now working on finalizing the real estate transaction.

“Everyone at Mount Franklin Foods is excited about our new operations in Sumter,” said Gary Ricco, the company’s president and ceo. “The Palmetto state and Sumter are pro-business, and this new location will provide us with a strong platform for driving revenues by continuing to serve our customers with compelling product offerings.”

Mount Franklin Foods is a North American manufacturer of high-quality confections and nut products, serving major retailers, wholesalers and food service distributors. Through its Sunrise Confections and Azar Nut divisions, the company’s operations span more than one million sq. ft., including four SQF 2000 Level III rated manufacturing plants.