Ontario Construction News staff writer
Global sweet-packaged food company Ferrero will invest $445 million to expand its manufacturing facility in Brantford.
The expansion includes the launch of a new manufacturing line for Ferrero Rocher chocolate squares, a global innovation being produced for the first time in Ontario. New production lines will also be added for Nutella Biscuitsโmarking the first time the product will be manufactured outside of Europe.
โThis is another important milestone in Ferreroโs history,โ said Omar Zausa, president of Ferrero Canada. โThis investment will strengthen our manufacturing capabilities and supply chain while accelerating the growth of our Nutella and Ferrero Rocher brands.โ
Ferreroโs Brantford facility, which opened in 2006, is the city’s largest employer, with more than1,300 workers.
The project will be supported by a loan of up to $36 million through the Invest Ontario Fund, pending a final agreement.
Premier Doug Ford called the expansion a โhistoricโ development for the province. โAt a time of global economic uncertainty, our government is going to keep working to make Ontario the most stable and attractive place to invest,โ Ford said.
Ferrero entered the Canadian market over 50 years ago and established its first North American plant in Brantford. Its Canadian operations now produce several popular brands including Nutella, Tic Tac and Ferrero Rocher.