After a large 2023–24 flu season and off‑season COVID‑19 surges pushed demand above pre‑pandemic averages, Reckitt is investing £155m ($200m) to convert a Wilson, North Carolina site into its largest US over‑the‑counter plant for Mucinex tablets and liquids.

Why Reckitt is betting on cold and flu remedies

Reckitt Benckiser Group plc is pressing ahead with a major US manufacturing investment after a run of unpredictable respiratory seasons. The company said it will convert a pharmaceutical site in Wilson, North Carolina, into a 310,000 square‑foot facility focused on Mucinex tablets and liquids.

The group is committing roughly £155 million (cited as $200 million) to establish the plant. Reckitt said the expansion will increase Mucinex production capacity and help localise manufacturing for its largest over‑the‑counter market.

Reckitt referenced figures from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showing the 2023–24 flu season was large, and noted off‑season COVID‑19 surges. The company said those trends have pushed demand for cold and flu relief above historical pre‑pandemic averages.

Supply chain, resilience and capacity

Reckitt framed the Wilson facility as both a capacity and supply‑chain response for the US market. The company said the site will allow faster responses to in‑season and off‑season demand surges and should reduce cross‑border disruption risks.

  • The factory will produce established Mucinex formats and new formats the company referenced, including Mucinex Mighty Chews and a two‑in‑one nasal spray.
  • Reckitt said the site will improve replenishment cycles for US retailers by localising production and cutting shipping times.
  • The investment is expected to create nearly 300 jobs in the Wilson region and benefit recruitment through proximity to the Research Triangle life‑sciences cluster.

How the move fits Reckitt's broader business

The investment aligns with Reckitt's position as a global consumer‑health and hygiene group headquartered in Slough. Its portfolio spans self‑care, household and nutrition products, and expanding Mucinex output in the US keeps the company's largest OTC market central to its manufacturing strategy.

Producing closer to US consumers can reduce shipping times and costs and lower vulnerability to distant factory or port disruptions. At the same time, Reckitt maintains corporate functions and some research operations at its Slough base, meaning economic benefits are distributed across jurisdictions.

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Reckitt said the expansion will increase Mucinex production capacity, create nearly 300 jobs in the Wilson area and localise manufacturing for its largest US over‑the‑counter market.

This article was created with AI assistance.