Ferrero Selects Illinois for First US Chocolate Plant

Confectionery firm Ferrero North America is committing $75 million to open its first-ever chocolate manufacturing plant in North America, the company announced in a recent release. Located in Bloomington, IL, the new 70,000-sq-ft chocolate production center will produce a variety of Ferrero brands, including Raisenets, 100Grand, and Crunch.

“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 center in North America – a key strategic market for us,” said Giovanni Ferrero, the executive chairman of the Ferrero Group, in a statement. “This investment represents an important milestone as we continue to expand our offering of high-quality products for consumers across North America.”

The space will be added to an existing Ferrero facility at 2501 Beich Road. About 50 new jobs will be created as a result of expansion. Work on the project is expected to reach completion in spring 2021.

“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,” Lapo Civiletti, Ferrero Group CEO, said in the release.