Ferrero Canada announces $445 million expansion of Brantford facility
The Ontario government welcomed an investment of $445 million by Ferrero Group, one of the world’s largest sweet-packaged food manufacturers, to expand the company’s production facility in Brantford.
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.
“I’m thrilled to welcome this historic investment to Ontario, along with hundreds of new, good-paying jobs for Ontario workers,” said Premier Doug Ford. “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.”
As the largest employer in the City of Brantford, Ferrero has been an integral part of Ontario’s manufacturing sector for nearly two decades. This latest investment will see their provincial workforce expand to over 1,800 employees.
Ferrero also committed to sourcing their key ingredients and packaging materials within Ontario.
“With a highly skilled workforce and competitive business environment, Ontario continues to stand out as a trusted partner for both domestic and international businesses looking to grow in the face of global economic uncertainty,” said Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. “We’re thrilled to welcome this investment by Ferrero and look forward to seeing their operations catalyze economic growth and innovation in Brantford.”
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The new facility and technologies to be deployed there will allow Ferrero to expand production of its products and launch in the future Ferrero Rocher chocolate squares in Ontario. Ferrero’s expansion will also support the development of new production lines, 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.
“This is a remarkable win for Brantford and all of Ontario. Ferrero’s expansion is a clear sign of investor confidence in the talent, supply chain strength and growth opportunities that Ontario offers,” said Khawar Nasim, CEO of Invest Ontario. “We’re proud to support this project to bring good jobs to our economy, create new business for local suppliers and make Ontario a more competitive player in the food manufacturing space.”
“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.”
