Ferrero is investing $86m in a manufacturing plant in Mexico to expand capacity and increase the exports from the site.
In a statement, the Italian food group said the spending at the site in Guanajuato in central Mexico includes work to raise the site's production capacity for Nutella.
The facility produces 35,295 tonnes a year of products including Kinder Sorpresa, Kinder Chocolate, Kinder Délice and Nutella.
Ferrero said the investment is intended to increase exports from the plant from 40% of total output to between 55% and 60%.
It supplies the domestic market in Mexico, as well as customers in the US, Canada and Central America.
Paolo Cornero, the CEO and president of Ferrero's business in Mexico and Central America, said: “Mexico continues to play a strategic role in Ferrero’s growth in the region. This investment reflects our long-term commitment to the country and our confidence in the talent of our people.”
He added: “By strengthening the capabilities of our San José Iturbide plant, we improve our ability to meet growing consumer demand while also supporting the continued development of our operations in Mexico.”
The owner of Ferrero Rocher brand said it has invested more than $330m in Mexico over the last ten years to support its operations, growth and production footprint.
Since 2022, the Guanajuato plant has added more than 200 employees, the company said.
Just Food has asked how many staff work at the plant and if the latest project will lead to more being employed full-time at the site.
In April, Ferrero said it had started making Nutella Peanut spread in the US for the first time, after investing $75m in its Franklin Park site in Illinois.
In March, Ferrero also expanded in Brazil through the acquisition of protein-bar maker Bold Snacks, its first move into the better-for-you category in South America.
Separately, Ferrara Candy Company, which is not owned by Ferrero Group but sits under the same ultimate control, said in April the company would invest $675m in a new factory in South Carolina.
Chicago-based Ferrara operates as an affiliated entity to Ferrero. Ferrero has described the business as a “Ferrero-related company”.
Both companies have the same shareholder, although Ferrara is not consolidated into the Ferrero group.
Ferrara’s brands include Nerds, Trolli, Jelly Belly and Black Forest.
