By Timothy S. Donahue
Top Takeaways:
- Major investment: Philip Morris International officially opened its $1.2 billion manufacturing campus in Aurora, Colorado, its first U.S. greenfield production complex and its largest facility dedicated to ZYN nicotine pouches.
- Capacity expansion: The campus strengthens PMI’s U.S. supply chain as demand for ZYN continues to grow and is expected to serve as a manufacturing and export hub.
- Economic impact: The project is expected to employ about 500 workers, and PMI estimates an annual economic impact of approximately $550 million for Colorado.
Philip Morris International has officially opened its $1.2 billion ZYN manufacturing campus in Aurora, Colorado, marking a significant expansion of its U.S. production footprint as the nicotine pouch category continues its rapid growth.
The 148-acre, 780,000-square-foot facility is PMI’s first greenfield manufacturing complex in the United States and its largest plant dedicated exclusively to ZYN nicotine pouches. The project, originally announced in 2024 as a $600 million investment, has since expanded into a planned $1.2 billion investment between 2024 and 2028 as the company adds manufacturing capacity, infrastructure and equipment.
The Aurora campus began commercial production earlier this month and joins PMI’s growing U.S. manufacturing network alongside facilities in Owensboro, Kentucky, and Wilson, North Carolina. PMI said the site is designed to strengthen domestic manufacturing capabilities while also supporting future export opportunities.
“Aurora represents an important milestone for PMI U.S. and our continued investment in our business here,” said Stacey Kennedy, CEO of PMI U.S. “This facility expands our production capacity, strengthens our supply chain, and enhances our ability to serve growing demand in the United States and around the world.
“It reflects our confidence in American workers, U.S. manufacturing, and the long-term growth opportunities ahead for our business.”
PMI expects the campus to employ about 500 people, with average annual salaries of about $90,000, and estimates the facility will generate roughly $550 million in annual economic impact for Colorado. State officials, including Gov. Jared Polis and Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman, joined company executives to celebrate the opening, highlighting the project’s manufacturing investment and job creation.
The Aurora campus integrates production, packaging, warehousing, and distribution operations within a single location, enabling efficient movement of products throughout the United States while supporting future export opportunities.
“Delivering a campus of this scale to commercial production within 19 months required exceptional collaboration, innovation, and commitment from everyone involved,” said Jim O’Leary, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Haskell Company, the design-build partner for the PMI U.S. Aurora campus. “By integrating design, engineering, and construction under a single team, we were able to accelerate delivery while maintaining the highest standards of quality and performance.
“We are proud to have helped create a facility that will generate lasting economic opportunity for Aurora and strengthen advanced manufacturing in the United States.”
According to an economic impact study by EConsult Solutions, the construction phase was expected to generate nearly $1 billion in economic activity. The facility is projected to support an additional 1,000 indirect jobs.
The company has also expanded its community investments in Colorado alongside the manufacturing project. Since 2024, PMI U.S. has contributed more than $1.5 million to local organizations, including the Rocky Mountain Veterans Advocacy Project, Aurora Water Cares and the Community College of Aurora Foundation.
The opening comes less than a month after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized 20 ZYN nicotine pouch products as Modified Risk Tobacco Products (MRTPs), making ZYN the first nicotine pouch brand permitted to market reduced-risk information about cigarettes. PMI said the Aurora investment supports its strategy to meet rising domestic demand and to position the facility for future international growth.
The campus also marks a milestone in PMI’s integration of Swedish Match, which the company acquired in 2022. ZYN was first introduced in Colorado through a limited market test in 2014, and the state has since become a key market for the brand’s U.S. expansion.
