Ferrero breaks ground on new $214 million Kinder Bueno production facility in Bloomington, IL

Ferrero North America, part of the global sweet-packaged food company Ferrero Group known for Nutella, Tic Tac, Butterfinger, and Crunch branded products, broke ground on its new Kinder Bueno production facility in Bloomington, Illinois.

The $214.4 million investment will add 200 new jobs to Ferrero's existing manufacturing footprint in Bloomington. The new facility will add 169,000 square feet to the existing campus and is slated to open in 2024.

The new facility will support the North American growth of Kinder Bueno, which Ferrero launched in the market in 2019. The expansion represents the first time Kinder products will be made in North America.

Alanna Cotton, president and chief business officer of Ferrero North America, said in the announcement: "This investment will fuel our momentum in North America, a strategic growth area for Ferrero. Enhancing our manufacturing capabilities in the market is key to driving our innovation agenda and advancing Ferrero's goal of becoming a world leader in snacks and confectionery. We're grateful for the strong partnerships we have with state and local leaders here, and proud that our expansion is part of Bloomington's amazing success story."

State and local leaders, including Governor JB Pritzker, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, Bloomington Mayor Mboka Mwilambwe, and Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Director Sylvia Garci joined Ferrero executives in a ceremony to celebrate the milestone.

"Central Illinois sits in the heart of our nation, so it's only fitting that it serves as the heart of Ferrero's North American operations: CRUNCH, 100 Grand, Raisinets, and now Kinder Bueno, all made right here," Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said in the announcement. "This expansion is a testament to Illinois' quality workforce and reputation on the global stage, and especially the quality workforce right here in Central Illinois. I want to thank the entire Ferrero team for their partnership. Here's to years of success for Ferrero and economic prosperity for the entire Bloomington-Normal metro area."

This groundbreaking represents the latest milestone in Ferrero's growth and investment in North America over the past few years. A chocolate processing facility is currently under construction on the company's Bloomington campus, and it recently expanded its capacity in its Brantford, Ontario, plant. In 2023, the company is slated to open a new Innovation Center that will include new R&D labs and offices for its cookies, cones, and crusts brand teams in Chicago. Ferrero's North American presence now totals more than 4,400 employees in eight offices and twelve plants and warehouses in the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean.