Gov. Pritzker and Ferrero Announce First-Ever U.S. Kinder Bueno Production Facility in Bloomington, Illinois

Ferrero to invest $214.4 million and create 200 new jobs at expanded Bloomington facility

June 2022 – BLOOMINGTON, IL —Governor JB Pritzker joined Ferrero North America, as well as state and local officials, to announce a new expansion of Ferrero’s Bloomington facility which will be the first North American location to produce Kinder Bueno products. The company’s commitment to further expand its Bloomington facility is expected to bring a $214.4 million investment and create 200 new jobs over four years – generating economic benefit for the region and state. The new facility is expected to be complete in 2024. 
“Just months after Ferrero broke ground on its first-ever U.S. chocolate processing facility in Illinois, I am thrilled to celebrate the establishment of the Kinder Bueno production line.  This expansion is a testament to Illinois’ quality workforce and reputation on the global stage. We thank Ferrero for its vote of confidence in Illinois and for bringing more opportunity to the Bloomington-Normal region.” said Governor JB Pritzker. 
“The investments we’re making in Bloomington are fueling continued growth for Ferrero in North America and are also creating important job opportunities in the community,” said Todd Siwak, President and Chief Business Officer of Ferrero North America. “We are thrilled to continue growing here with the invaluable support of the City of Bloomington, McLean County, and the State of Illinois.”  Global player Ferrero’s footprint in the North American market now totals eight offices and ten plants and warehouses, including a cocoa processing plant in Brantford, Ontario.

The new Kinder Bueno production facility is an expansion of Ferrero’s existing Bloomington manufacturing center, which is currently constructing a processing expansion for chocolate for other Ferrero products for the North American market, with expected completion in 2023, adding 169,000 square feet dedicated to producing Kinder Bueno, a popular Ferrero premium chocolate bar that launched in the U.S. in 2019.

As part of the expansion, the company received an Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) tax credit, which stipulates a goal of investing $103 million and creating 75 jobs over the next two years. A link to the full agreement can be found here.

Ferrero partners with Heartland Community College on an apprenticeship partnership that strengthens the workforce pipeline by training and certifying maintenance workers at the plant.