Ferrero opens new manufacturing facility in Turkey

Ferrero, an Italian confectionery group, has opened a new €95m production facility in Aegean province, Manisa, Turkey.

The new plant is the company’s 19th production facility. This development is in line with its strategy to strengthen its presence in the Turkish market and explore untapped markets in North Africa and the Middle East.

Covering an area of about 36 acres, the plant will initially have a production capacity of 30,000t a year.

It will manufacture Kinder chilled and Nutella chocolate spread products, creating 200 direct jobs.

Ferrero plans to expand the plant’s capacity to 50,000t at a later stage, and eventually supply overseas markets.

The Investment Support and Promotion Agency of Turkey (ISPAT) assisted the company in the realisation of the project.

Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said: "We expect Ferrero’s demand in Turkey’s hazelnut production to increase."

Turkey is a leading exporter of hazelnuts, accounting for approximately 75% of worldwide production.

Ferrero is a major purchaser of Turkish hazelnuts for the production of its Rocher and Nutella products.

The company considers Turkey, a major raw material supplier, as a domestic market of great interest for its products in the coming years.

Headquartered in Piedmont, Italy, Ferrero is the fourth leading confectionery manufacturer in the world and its products include Ferrero Rocher, Pocket Coffee, Mon Chéri, Giotto, Confetteria Raffaello coconut cream candy, Hanuta chocolate hazelnut-filled wafers and the Kinder line of products, among others.

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Image: The new facility will manufacture Kinder chilled and Nutella chocolate spread products. Photo courtesy of Ferrero.