Privately-owned confectionery major Ferrero is investing C$445m ($321m) to expand its production facility in Brantford in Canada.
Ferrero told Just Food the factory’s capacity will increase by an additional 90,000 square feet.
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The investment will see the launch of production lines for Nutella Biscuits and Ferrero Rocher chocolate squares, a statement from the Ontario government said.
Nutella Biscuits are already sold in Canada but Ferrero is set to start producing the snacks in the country next year. The Ferrero Rocher chocolate squares will be a new product for the Canadian market, although the company would not say when they were set to be launched.
The province is contributing C$36m towards Ferrero’s investment, the statement read.
Ferrero confirmed the expansion would generate 500 new jobs once the expansion work has finished, taking the company’s workforce at the plant in Ontario to more than 1,800 full-time employees. The Brantford facility supplies Canada, as well as other undisclosed factories.
“This expansion represents a commitment to Ferrero’s tremendous momentum in the region and will strengthen our manufacturing capabilities and supply chain,” Omar Zausa, the president of Ferrero’s business in Canada, said.
For the financial year ending 31 August 2024, Ferrero posted a consolidated revenue of €18.4bn, up 8.9% from the previous year. The company operates 37 manufacturing facilities worldwide at the end of the period.
In August last year, Ferrero announced plans to invest approximately €170m (then $189m) in upgrading its Stadtallendorf facility in central Germany.
The site, which has operated since 1956, was to be expanded with a new production hall following approval from the local Gießen Regional Council.
In May last year, Ferrero opened its first chocolate-processing plant in the US. The facility is in Bloomington in Illinois.
