Ferrero North America has opened its new Kinder Bueno production facility in Bloomington, Illinois. The expansion, which results from a $214 million investment, was first announced in November 2022 and has created around 200 new jobs and is set to drive the Italian confectionery giant’s market expansion.
The 169,000-square-foot facility is an expansion of Ferrero’s existing manufacturing campus in Bloomington, where it manufactures brands such as Crunch, 100 Grand, Raisinets, and other chocolate products. It is now home to the company’s first-ever chocolate factory outside of Europe. Since being introduced to US consumers in 2019, Kinder Bueno has reached #17 in sales among mainstream chocolate brands and has reached over $214 million in retail sales in the last year.
Michael Lindsey, president and chief business officer of Ferrero North America, said: “This new project will help us increase Ferrero’s incredible momentum and innovations here in the US market. Kinder Bueno quickly became an American favorite after being introduced just five years ago, and with the support of leaders in Illinois, the Bloomington community, and our valued retail partners like Walmart, the brand will continue to grow and thrive.”
Jason Fremstad, SVP of supplier development, global sourcing at Walmart, added: “Ferrero’s investments in American manufacturing bring new jobs to our communities and support workforce development. We’re proud to support our suppliers making these critical investments, which are good for business, good for the country, and most importantly good for local communities.”