The company, part of the global Ferrero Group, said its new 45,000 square foot facility will bring together Ferrero's R&D teams throughout the US and also house employees from Ferrero's Old Post Office location representing Fannie May, Nutella Café, Keebler, Famous Amos, Mother's, and other distinctive cookie brands in the Ferrero portfolio.
"Our goal for this space is to reflect Ferrero's unique heritage and provide an opportunity to create greater synergies among our teams. This new space will foster the collaboration, creativity and culture that Ferrero is known for around the world," said Todd Siwak, President, and Chief Business Officer of Ferrero North America. "I am proud of our growing footprint in Illinois and strongly believe that this innovation centre will propel our teams forward to become leaders in the sweet packaged foods category."
The new innovation centre, R&D lab, and offices, located on the eighth and ninth floors at 24 East Washington, will bring about 170 cross-functional team members to Chicago's Loop neighbourhood.
The announcement is the latest in a series of milestones in Ferrero's growth in North America. The company is building a chocolate processing facility and a new plant to make Kinder Bueno products in Bloomington, Illinois, and is expanding capacity in its Brantford, Ontario plant. In the past few years, it has opened new distribution centres in Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Arizona, and expanded its North American headquarters in Parsippany, New Jersey.
Ferrero said the move will take place over two phases, with all current Ferrero Chicago employees moving to a temporary office space while construction is completed on the final space. The final office at the Marshall Field & Co. building is set be complete by Spring of 2023.