Ferrero, an Italian manufacturer of chocolate and other confectionery products, has unveiled a new EUR95m manufacturing facility in Aegean province of Manisa, Turkey, to further strengthen its local presence and enter new markets in North Africa and the Middle East.
The opening ceremony was attended by Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc, Investment Support and Promotion Agency of Turkey (ISPAT) vice-president Arda Ermut, Ferrero executives and Manisa deputies.
The 36-acre facility, which will produce Nutella and Kinder products, will have a capacity of 30,000t per annum. It will create 200 direct jobs on reaching full production rate.
Ferrero plans to boost the capacity of its Manisa plant to 50,000t at a later date to cater to the overseas markets.
Arinc said: "We expect Ferrero's demand in Turkey's hazelnut production to increase."
Ferrero, the fourth largest manufacturer of confectionery products in the world, is a major customer for Turkish hazelnuts, which it uses in the production of Rocher and Nutella products. Turkey accounts for about 75% of the world's hazelnut production.
