Ferrero to build its first North American chocolate manufacturing center

The new manufacturing center will be an expansion of the existing Ferrero's Bloomington facility and will allow the company to produce chocolate for Crunch, 100Grand, SnoCaps, Raisinets, Goobers, Ferrero Rocher and other Ferrero products made in North America. The USD 75 m expansion, which will add 21,300 square meters to the plant, is projected to start construction by Spring 2021. It is anticipated to create approximately 50 local jobs.

"As a family company, we are proud to have a long track record of investments in local manufacturing infrastructure over the last 70 years. We are therefore delighted to announce that construction will begin on Ferrero's first chocolate manufacturing center in North America - a key strategic market for us. This investment represents an important milestone as we continue to expand our offering of high-quality products for consumers across North America," said Giovanni Ferrero, Executive Chairman of the Ferrero Group.

Lapo Civiletti, CEO of the Ferrero Group, added, "North America will be home to our third chocolate manufacturing plant in the world. This investment strengthens our commitment to the region and will play a crucial role in meeting our global growth goals." Over the last 18 months, Ferrero has made significant investments in North America, including the expansion of its North American headquarters in New Jersey, opening of new distribution centers in Pennsylvania, Arizona and Georgia, and management of two facilities in Franklin Park, Illinois, as well as the plant in Bloomington. The company has 3,000 employees in eight offices and ten plants and warehouses in North America.

"I am excited about our significant investment in our Bloomington facility," said Paul Chibe, President and CEO, Ferrero North America, "The investment in Bloomington will enable continued growth for Ferrero in North America and will create significant opportunities for the Bloomington community. We are excited to grow in Bloomington and look forward to offering strong employment opportunities to the people of Illinois."