Ferrero to conquer America. After days of rumors, the official news has finally arrived: the Italian giant has purchased the chocolate bars Nestle for $2,8 billion (2,3 billion euros).
“In 2016, Nestlé's confectionery business in the United States – reads the release released by Ferrero – generated a turnover of approximately 900 million dollars”.
Based on the agreement reached, around twenty American brands will "become Italian", including Butterfinger and Baby Ruth, but also 100Grand, Raisinets, Wonka. Ferrero will also have the exclusive right to the Crunch brand in the USA as well as the candy brands SweeTarts, LaffyTaffy and Nerds.
“We are thrilled to have acquired Nestlé's confectionery business in the United States of America,” he said John Ferrero, executive chairman of the Ferrero Group – which brings with it an exceptional portfolio of iconic brands steeped in history and highly recognisable. This, combined with Ferrero's current offering on the American market, including the recently acquired Fannie May and Ferrara Candy Company, will ensure a substantially broader range, broader offering of high quality products for chocolate snack consumers, sweets, confectionery and seasonal holiday products, as well as exciting new growth opportunities in the largest confectionary market in the world”.
Not only that, through this operation, as the note from the Alba group underlines, "Ferrero will become the third largest confectionery company in the US market where it is best known for Tic Tacs, Ferrero Rocher pralines, Nutella”.
A position conquered not only thanks to this latest acquisition, but also through the "shopping" carried out previously which also guaranteed Ferrero Fannie May and Harry London chocolate and the Ferrara Candy Company.
The agreement also provides that, in addition to the brands, the Piedmontese company will also acquire the US factories of Nestlé. In detail, these are the plants of "Bloomington, Franklin Park and Itasca, in Illinois, with employees connected to the confectionery division, continuing to operate through the offices in Glendale, California, and its other locations in Illinois and New Jersey" .
Lapo Civiletti, CEO of the Ferrero Group, commented: "Our commitment to transferring value to North American consumers and customers will be further strengthened by the arrival in our portfolio of such powerful brands in the confectionery and chocolate market".
