Ferrero North America, part of the Italian-founded Ferrero Group behind brands like Ferrero Rocher, Nutella, Kinder and TicTac, has opened its first chocolate processing factory in the region in Bloomington, Illinois.
A 70,000ft² expansion to Fererro’s manufacturing campus in Bloomington will allow chocolate to be processed on-site. It marks a growth in the company’s footprint not just in North America but in Illinois. The company manufactures its Butterfinger and Baby Ruth products at its plant in Franklin Park and its Keebler products on 110th Street in Chicago.
Alanna Cotton, president and CBO of Ferrero North America, commented: “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”
He added:”Ferrero and Bloomington are going to be greater together for years to come.”
Ferrero says that the Bloomington site, which already manufactures CRUNCH, 100 Grand and Raisinets products, will ‘soon house a new US$214 million Kinder Bueno production facility, expected to create 200 additional new local jobs when it opens later this year’.
JB Pritzker, governor of Illinois, said: “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.”
Pritzker continued: “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.”
Bloomington mayor Mboka Mwilambwe described Ferrero’s investment in the city as “a key driver of the incredible growth of our community”, noting: “I look forward to prospering together for years to come.”
Ferrero’s North American expansion extends far beyond Illinois, having recently invested in new capacity and capabilities for its Ontario plant and adding distribution centres in Pennsylvania, Georgia and Arizona. It has also invested in Oregon’s hazelnut growers.
It now employees over 5,100 employees across eight offices and 12 plants and warehouses in the US, Canada and the Caribbean.
Following the undeniable success of IntraLogisteX 2024 in the UK, the exhibition is heading across the Atlantic later in the year, with IntraLogisteX USA taking place on 22-23 October 2024 at Miami Beach Convention Centre.
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Plus, the Supply Chain Excellence Awards are also heading stateside as Miami welcomes the very first Supply Chain Excellence Awards USA on 21 October 2024.
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