AUSTRALIA | Ferrero has celebrated 50 years of delighting Australians with its iconic brands.
From its beginnings as a small pastry shop in Italy, Ferrero has made many of Australia’s most-loved sweet treats, including Nutella, Ferrero Rocher, Kinder, and Tic Tac. This journey has been reflected in the company’s performance, which has almost doubled, with 91 percent growth in ten years.
Most of this success has been achieved in the last four years, as Ferrero sought to move beyond confectionery into sweet packaged food categories. The business’ strategy has seen Ferrero Australia successfully expand into four new categories in the last four years.
The Nutella brand is one of the only consumer brands with an international ‘day’—World Nutella Day, celebrated earlier this month. In 2023, Nutella even surpassed local cupboard staples to become the top spread in Australia.
The Ferrero Rocher range has become synonymous with seasonal moments. Eight billion Ferrero Rochers are produced each year globally, and the business has captured a significant share of the local market across Easter and Christmas.
Ferrero’s growing biscuits portfolio, which includes Kinder Happy Hippo, Kinder Tronky and Nutella b-ready, outperformed the category year on year. The latest entrant, Nutella Biscuits, became an essential European souvenir when it launched in Italy in 2019 before quickly capturing local hearts and appetites in 2023.
In the freezer aisle, Kinder Bueno cones launched in October, joining the Ferrero Rocher multipack, the number one product in its category during its launch period, and Raffaello and Rondnoir frozen desserts.
In Spring 2024, Ferrero entered the Better-for-you category by launching Fulfil Protein and Vitamin Bars. In 2025, Ferrero added Nutella Frozen Bakery products to its out-of-home offering, with Nutella Croissants and Nutella Muffins now available for café partners.
Looking ahead, Ferrero aims to expand its local portfolio of Sweet Packaged Foods while continuing to invest in its Australian operations and community partnerships.
“Ferrero's successful 50-year journey in Australia is made possible by our commitment to creating quality products and innovating to bring new products to the market, all while having highest regard for how and where we source our ingredients to minimise our impact on the planet,” said Massimo D’Ambrosio, Managing Director for Ferrero Australia.
Ferrero’s commitment to Australia has extended beyond its product offering to substantial investments in local infrastructure and sustainability initiatives. Its Lithgow factory in regional New South Wales opened in 1976 as the company’s first factory outside of Europe and has been a major local employer, serving as the hub for Nutella production for Australia, New Zealand and East Asia.
Over the past three years, Ferrero Australia has invested AUD 30 million in its Lithgow site, with a further AUD 8 million in FY24/25.
These commitments have enabled a range of sustainability initiatives, such as rooftop solar, which generates around 20 percent of the factory’s energy needs, and water efficiency measures that have reduced consumption by 44 percent in absolute terms in the last year, all while simultaneously achieving record Nutella production of more than 15 million kilograms.
Ferrero has invested in purpose-built warehousing capacity in Kemps Creek to support the company's ambitious growth plans. The new facilities, owned and operated by Ceva Logistics, were opened in late 2024. They extend Ferrero’s supply chain capabilities and deliver operational efficiency for the region.
The company also championed the global business’ value of ‘Work, Create, Donate’, supporting the local community through many relationships with charities and community groups that have extended years, even decades.
Last year, the company donated more than AUD two million in products to charities, including Foodbank, Crêpes for Change, OzHarvest, and the Seven Valleys Visitor Information Centre in Lithgow, where Nutella sales support tourism efforts in the area.
“Ferrero’s story in Australia showcases our unique ability to blend family values with modern sustainability practices, ensuring that our much-loved products will be enjoyed for generations to come. We have set ourselves ambitious growth plans for the future, always aiming to exceed the expectations of Australian consumers as we build on the success of our iconic brands.”
Ferrero Australia’s success mirrors that of the global business, which saw an 8.9 percent increase in turnover to EUR18.4 billion in FY23- 24. The Ferrero Group now has more than 35 brands sold across more than 170 countries.
