Franklin Park just got a little sweeter. Ferrero's local plant is now cranking out Nutella Peanut, the brand's first new flavor in more than 60 years, with jars of the peanut-forward spread already heading to North American shelves after a ribbon-cutting on Friday.
In a press release via Ferrero North America, the company said Nutella Peanut began rolling out nationwide in mid-April and will get a spotlight moment at a two-day pop-up in New York City's NoHo neighborhood on May 16–17. The product is described as a blend of Nutella's classic cocoa-hazelnut base with roasted peanuts, and shoppers are directed to NutellaUSA.com for a store locator.
Made in Franklin Park
Industry coverage shows Ferrero invested roughly $75 million to retrofit its west suburban facility for the new line. Food Processing reported the price tag and earlier estimates that the upgrade would create about 65 jobs as the plant geared up for Nutella Peanut production.
Local ribbon cutting, new jobs
The company marked the launch with a formal ribbon-cutting at the Franklin Park site on Friday and said the Nutella Peanut line has created roughly 50 positions across production and supervisory roles, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Michael Lindsey, president and chief business officer of Ferrero North America, told the paper the product took years to develop, while Illinois Senate President Don Harmon called the expansion a win for local manufacturing.
Ingredients and safety
Nutella's U.S. product FAQ notes that Nutella Peanut is being made in a dedicated facility at Franklin Park in order to prevent cross-contamination with classic Nutella. The same FAQ explains that the peanuts are sourced from the United States, peanut flour comes from South America, and hazelnuts are sourced from Oregon. Nutella.com also states that the Franklin Park operations added production capacity in 2024 to support new products.
Part of a bigger push
The new spread is one piece of Ferrero's broader U.S. growth strategy, which has included a string of acquisitions and product launches aimed at deepening its American footprint. As Food Dive reports, those moves have expanded Ferrero's production and distribution capabilities in Illinois and elsewhere in the country.
Company materials and trade coverage say Nutella Peanut is now on shelves at major retailers and that Ferrero will monitor consumer response before deciding whether to increase production beyond Franklin Park. In statements cited by Ferrero and in reporting from Food Dive, the company has framed the launch as a test of demand that could lead to a broader rollout if the flavor proves popular.
