Cadbury expands Hobart chocolate factory

Mondelez International is investing $4 million in Hobart's Cadbury chocolate factory while pushing ahead with plans to close its Dunedin production line.

The food giant announced on Wednesday the money would buy new equipment to produce two new lines at the Claremont plant, while the southern New Zealand site is due to close in 2018.

"We have a $25 million annual investment fund for Claremont which is continuing to help us improve the site, our products, and to become globally competitive," Mondelez spokeswoman Amanda Banfield said.