Ferrero Group Invests $445 Million in Ontario Production Facility

BRANTFORD, Ontario — Ferrero Group, a sweet-packaged food manufacturer, is investing $445 million to expand the its production facility in Brantford, Ontario. The upgraded facility will support the production of new products, including Ferrero’s first launch of a new product outside of Europe, and create 500 new jobs in Brantford.

As the largest employer in the city of Brantford, Ferrero has been part of Ontario’s manufacturing sector for nearly two decades. This investment will see the company’s provincial workforce expand to over 1,800 employees. Ferrero has committed to sourcing key ingredients and packaging materials within Ontario, supporting the province’s local farmers, suppliers and manufacturers.

By leveraging the Internet of Things (IoT) and advanced robotics to digitize production and improve productivity, the investment will see Ferrero’s production capabilities and capacity expand, allowing for the launch of Ferrero Rocher chocolate squares in Ontario, said the company. Ferrero’s expansion will also support the development of new production lines for products, such as Nutella Biscuits, that had previously never been manufactured beyond its European locations.

In support of this investment, Ontario is providing $36 million in funding through the Invest Ontario Fund.

“We are grateful for the ongoing support of the province and the city of Brantford, who recognize the invaluable contributions of the food industry,” said Eric Houdet, senior vice president, Canada industrial, Brantford plant, Ferrero Canada. “As the largest employer in Brantford, this investment and hundreds of new employees will bolster the local economy and help us bring amazing treats to more people around the world.”

Added Premier Doug Ford, “I’m thrilled to welcome this historic investment to Ontario, along with hundreds of new, good-paying jobs for Ontario workers. At a time of global economic uncertainty, our government is going to keep working to make Ontario the most stable and attractive place to invest and do business, so we can continue welcoming new, job-creating investments like the one we are celebrating today. No matter what, we’ll always have the backs of our world-class workers.”