Ferrero North America, part of Ferrero Group, will begin construction of its first North American chocolate production plant early next year. The facility will be an expansion of the company’s current site in Bloomington, IL, and will allow for the manufacturing of brands including Crunch, 100Grand, SnoCaps, Raisinets, and Goobers.
The $75M expansion, which will add 70,000 square feet to the plant’s current footprint, is projected to start by Spring 2021 and 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 centre 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 Ferrero Group.
During the past 18 months, Ferrero has said it has made significant investments in the region, including the expansion of its North American headquarters in New Jersey, opening of new distribution centres in Pennsylvania, Arizona and Georgia, and management of two facilities in Franklin Park, IL, as well as the plant in Bloomington.
“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,” added Lapo Civiletti, CEO of Ferrero Group.
“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.”
“Illinois is so proud to welcome the first Ferrero chocolate manufacturing centre outside of Europe,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “This is an investment in the people and community of Bloomington — and my administration is proud to have Ferrero as a community partner in this enterprise zone, spurring new jobs and economic development.”
