The $75M
project is part of Ferrero's ongoing investment and expansion in
the market
PARSIPPANY, N.J., May 7, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- Ferrero North
America, part of the global sweet-packaged food company the
Ferrero Group known for Keebler®, Butterfinger®, Nutella®, Kinder®,
Tic Tac®, and other well-loved brands, today celebrated the opening
of its first chocolate processing facility in North America and third globally. The 70,000
square foot expansion to Ferrero's manufacturing campus in
Bloomington, Illinois produces
chocolate for some of Ferrero's iconic brands including Kinder,
Ferrero Rocher, Butterfinger, and
CRUNCH.
"Bringing Ferrero's decades of experience making high-quality,
world class chocolate to Illinois
– the heart of America's food and confections industry – is going
to help us achieve our goal of being the sweets and treats leader
in the market," said Alanna Cotton,
President and Chief Business Officer of Ferrero North America. "Ferrero and Bloomington are going to be greater together
for years to come."
The investment further expands Ferrero's footprint in
Illinois. The company manufactures
Butterfinger and Baby Ruth products
at its plant in Franklin Park, and
Keebler products on 110th Street in Chicago. Last year the company opened its new
Innovation Center and R&D Labs in Chicago's historic Marshall Field and Company Building. The Ferrero
manufacturing campus in Bloomington manufactures CRUNCH, 100 Grand,
and Raisinets in addition to now processing chocolate. The campus
will also soon house a new $214
million Kinder Bueno
production facility, expected to create 200 additional new local
jobs when it opens later this year.
"The exceptional talent and infrastructure here in Central Illinois are helping drive the growth
of Ferrero's iconic brands, from CRUNCH and 100 Grand to Raisinets
and soon Kinder Bueno," said
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker.
"Ferrero's Bloomington facility,
now including the company's first chocolate factory outside of
Europe, is demonstrating to the
world the manufacturing prowess we have right here in Illinois."
"Ferrero's investments have been a key driver of the incredible
growth of our community," said Bloomington Mayor Mboka Mwilambwe. "I look forward to prospering
together for years to come."
The chocolate processing facility is part of Ferrero's overall
growth and investment in North
America. In addition to new projects in Illinois, the company recently invested in new
capacity and capabilities for its Brantford, Ontario plant and added
distribution centers in Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Arizona, as well as invested in Oregon's hazelnut growers. Ferrero's North
American presence now totals more than 5,100 employees across eight
offices and twelve plants and warehouses in the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean.
About Ferrero
Ferrero began its journey in the small
town of Alba in Piedmont, Italy, in 1946. Today, it is one of the
world's largest sweet-packaged food companies, with over 35 iconic
brands sold in more than 170 countries. The Ferrero Group brings
joy to people around the world with much-loved treats and snacks
including Nutella®, Kinder®, Tic Tac®, and Ferrero Rocher®. More
than 38,000 employees are passionate about helping people celebrate
life's special moments. The Ferrero Group's family culture, now in
its third generation, is based on dedication to quality and
excellence, heritage and a commitment to the planet and communities
in which we operate.
Ferrero entered the North American market in 1969 and has grown
to more than 5,400 employees in 15 plants and warehouses, and eight
offices in North America across the United
States, Canada and the Caribbean. It has expanded
its presence and portfolio with the addition of iconic brands such
as Butterfinger®, CRUNCH®, Keebler®, Famous Amos®, Mother's
Cookies®, and other distinctive cookie and chocolate brands. Follow
@FerreroNACorp on Twitter and
Instagram. www.ferreronorthamerica.com.
Media Contact: Cassi DePasquale,
CDePasquale@golin.com
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SOURCE Ferrero North America