Ferrero North America, the Parsippany-based food company known for Keebler, Butterfinger, Nutella, Kinder and other well-loved brands, on Tuesday celebrated the opening of its first chocolate processing facility in North America and third globally.
The company manufactures Butterfinger and Baby Ruth products at its plant in Franklin Park, and Keebler products on 110th Street in Chicago. Last year, it opened its new Innovation Center and R&D Labs in Chicago’s historic Marshall Field and Co. Building.
Located at 2501 Beich Road in Bloomington, Illinois, the newest Ferrero facility manufactures CRUNCH, 100 Grand and Raisinets and is now processing chocolate with its 70,000-square-foot expansion complete. Additionally, the campus will soon house a new $214 million Kinder Bueno production facility, expected to create 200 additional new local jobs when it opens later this year.
“Bringing Ferrero’s decades of experience making high-quality, world class chocolate to Illinois — the heart of America’s food and confections industry — is going to help us achieve our goal of being the sweets and treats leader in the market,” Alanna Cotton, president and chief business officer of Ferrero North America, said. “Ferrero and Bloomington are going to be greater together for years to come.”
“The exceptional talent and infrastructure here in Central Illinois are helping drive the growth of Ferrero’s iconic brands, from CRUNCH and 100 Grand to Raisinets and soon Kinder Bueno,” Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said. “Ferrero’s Bloomington facility, now including the company’s first chocolate factory outside of Europe, is demonstrating to the world the manufacturing prowess we have right here in Illinois.”
