Innovation, research, and development are top of mind for Ferrero North America as of late. The company recently opened its new Innovation Center and North America R&D Labs in Chicago, Illinois. The 45,000-square-foot facility brings together Ferrero's R&D teams from throughout the country and houses teams working on Keebler®, Famous Amos, Mother's, Fannie May, and other brands with over 150 employees.
"Our new Innovation Center and R&D Labs here in Chicago reflect Ferrero's rich heritage and will foster the creativity and culture that Ferrero [is] known for around the world," said Alanna Cotton, President and Chief Business Officer. "Investments like this help us create high-quality, innovative products that will become a special part of Americans' lives and further drive category growth in confections, cookies, and beyond."
According to a press release, the company manufactures Butterfinger and Baby Ruth products at its plant in Franklin Park, IL, and Keebler products in Chicago. The Ferrero manufacturing campus in Bloomington, IL, manufactures CRUNCH, 100 Grand, and other products, and will soon include a new chocolate processing facility and a new Kinder Bueno production facility.
In addition to new projects in Illinois, the company invested in new capacity and capabilities for its Brantford, Ontario, Canada, plant earlier this year and previously added distribution centers in Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Arizona. Ferrero's North American presence now totals more than 5,000 employees across eight offices and 12 plants and warehouses in the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean.
The Marshall Field and Company Building where the new facility is located is operated by Brookfield Properties. The property is a Chicago Landmark, a National Historic Landmark, and has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1978.
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