LUXEMBOURG -- The Ferrero Group, maker of confectionery brands Kinder and Tic Tac, has acquired the Ferrara Candy Co., the maker of Red Hots, Trolli gummy candy, Black Forest Organic and Brach's. Ferrero entered into the agreement with the private-equity company and owner of Ferrara, L Catterton. Terms of the acquisition were not released.
Ferrara will remain a separate business unit and keep its headquarters in Oakbrook Terrace, Ill. Other Ferrara facilities will also remain in operation, including:
- Manufacturing facilities in Bellwood and Forest Park, Ill., and Reynosa and Vernell, Mexico.
- Two distribution centers in Bolingbrook, Ill., and Grand Prairie, Texas.
- An engineering and research-and-development center in Bellwood.
Ferrero expects to leverage these existing locations and is planning no additional consolidations, according to Food Business News.
“With this acquisition, we are continuing to increase our overall footprint and product offering in the important U.S. market, establishing a presence in new confectionery categories with attractive growth prospects, including gummy and seasonal candies,” Giovanni Ferrero, executive chairman of the Ferrero Group, told Food Business News. “We look forward to continuing to grow the Ferrara business, investing in its brands to support expansion plans, leveraging its U.S. manufacturing plants and distribution centers, and creating opportunities for its talented people.”
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