Church & Dwight Co., Inc. (CHD), established in 1846 and based in Princeton, New Jersey, is a producer of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) products. The company’s consumer products business in divided into two segments: Consumer Domestic and Consumer International. Consumer Domestic encompasses both household (such as the famous ARM & HAMMER® brand) and personal care products, while Consumer International primarily consists of personal care products. About 40% of the company’s U.S. consumer products are sold under the ARM & HAMMER brand name and derivative trademarks.

The company announced this month plans to construct a new integrated laundry detergent manufacturing plant and distribution center in York County, Pennsylvania. Construction on the site will begin in September 2008 and is scheduled to begin operation by the end of 2009. Once the new facility is open, the company will close the other laundry manufacturing plant and distribution center in North Brunswick, New Jersey.

The facility will be located in Jackson Township in York County, approximately 100 miles from Philadelphia, and will occupy 232 acres with 1.1 million sq. ft. of building space with the ability to expand. The site design reflects the company’s concern for the environment, and the sustainable goals for the facility include a 30% reduction in energy consumption, a 50% reduction in solid waste and industrial effluent from manufacturing operations, and the use of renewable energy sources for on-site processing.

Church & Dwight expects to invest approximately $170M in capital expenditures and transition expenses for opening the York site and closing the North Brunswick facility. The company plans to provide severance and transition benefits to approximately 300 employees who will be affected by the North Brunswick closing and considerations for employment opportunities at other operations within the company’s territory.

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