Pints of Halo Top, high-protein, low-sugar and low-calorie ice creams. Credit: Leena Robinson/ Shutterstock.com

US-based ice-cream maker Wells Enterprises has increased its investment in its planned expansion of a production site in Dunkirk, New York.

The Blue Bunny frozen desserts producer has upped its investment in the project from $250m to $425m.

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Its initial investment, announced last year, was expected to bring “over 200 new roles” to the Dunkirk site, which produces the brands Halo Top, Blue Ribbon and Blue Bunny.

According to a statement from New York State Governor Kathy Hochul on Tuesday (23 July), the fresh investment will be used to install “a first-of-its-kind” chocolate ingredient processing line, creating 270 new jobs.

The expansion will help Wells Enterprises more than double the factory’s size to 350,00 square feet. It will also help to grow its annual production capacity from 3-4 million cases of ice cream to more than 20 million cases per year, the group told Just Food.

New York State said it had injected around $18m into the project via a grant and business tax credits scheme.

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Construction is ongoing at the facility. The company continues to produce its ice-cream products at the factory as work takes place.

The expanded area of the Dunkirk factory should be operational from August 2025.

In a statement, Wells Enterprises CEO Liam Killeen said: “We are extremely excited to build on the strength of our team in Dunkirk and continue to work with the community to grow and expand our operations here.

“The investment in Dunkirk illustrates our passion to provide high-quality premium ice cream products that bring joy to consumers around the world.

“The planned expansion also reinforces our dedication to our team, consumers, and the community as a critical part of the long-term future of our company,

In 2022, Italian confectionery major Ferrero announced it had secured a deal to acquire Wells Enterprises for an unknown figure.