Who Owns Nutella? Exploring Ferrero's Australian Connection

is nutella australian owned

Nutella is a hazelnut cocoa spread that has become a staple in many households worldwide. The product was first launched in Italy and is now available in Europe, the USA, and the Gulf. While Nutella is not Australian-owned, its parent company, Ferrero, has had a presence in Australia since 1974 and has been working towards establishing an Australian production centre.

Characteristics Values
Country of origin Italy
Company that owns Nutella Ferrero Group
Year Nutella was first launched 1964
Country where the first jar of Nutella was made and sold Italy
Ferrero Group's headquarters Alba, Piedmont, Italy
Year Ferrero Group was founded 1946
Ferrero Group's business model Family-owned company
Ferrero Group's core values Respect, integrity, and innovation
Ferrero Group's total number of brands Over 35
Ferrero Group's total number of employees 46,000+
Ferrero Group's total sales of Nutella $3.18 billion annually
Ferrero Group's total investment in Australia $70 million
Ferrero Group's Australian hazelnut farm location Narrandera, New South Wales
Ferrero Group's Australian hazelnut farm size 2,600 hectares

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Nutella is owned by the Italian company Ferrero

Ferrero has been bringing joy to Australian consumers since 1974, and Australia was home to its first plant outside of Europe, located in Lithgow, near Sydney. Nutella has become a beloved brand in Australia, with its unique hazelnut cocoa spread enjoyed by many. The company has also invested in Australian hazelnut production, planting a million hazelnut trees on a farm in New South Wales with the aim of establishing an Australian production centre.

However, in 2023, Ferrero decided to discontinue its hazelnut farm in Australia due to the region's long-term climate being unsuitable for hazelnut farming. Despite this setback, Ferrero remains committed to bringing its products to Australian consumers and continues to be a beloved brand in the country.

The history of Nutella and its connection to Italy are celebrated by Australians as well. In 2016, a book dedicated to the brand, titled "Nutella World," was launched in Melbourne, Australia. The book, written by Gigi Padovani, explores the story of Nutella from its humble beginnings in Italy to its global success. The launch event marked the beginning of a month-long celebration of Nutella, showcasing its impact on breakfast tables worldwide.

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Ferrero has been selling its products in Australia since 1974

Nutella is produced by the Italian company Ferrero, which has been selling its products in Australia since 1974. Ferrero was founded in 1946 in the small town of Alba in Piedmont, Italy, and is still a family-owned company. It is one of the world's largest sweet-packaged food companies, with over 35 iconic brands sold in more than 170 countries.

Ferrero's connection with Australia began in 1974, and the company has been bringing joy to Australian consumers ever since with its beloved brands, including Nutella, Ferrero Rocher, Kinder, and Tic Tac. Nutella, the company's iconic hazelnut cocoa spread, has become a staple in pantries across Australia.

In 2016, Melbourne's gourmet food store LaManna Direct hosted the official Australian launch of "Nutella World," a book dedicated to the rich history of the Nutella brand. The event marked the beginning of a month-long celebration of Nutella, showcasing an array of Nutella creations and providing a deeper insight into the brand's story.

Ferrero has also invested in local hazelnut production in Australia, planting one million hazelnut trees on a farm in New South Wales. The aim was to establish an Australian production centre to meet the high demand for Nutella in the country. However, in 2023, Ferrero decided to discontinue its hazelnut farm due to adverse weather conditions and the region's long-term climate being unsuitable for hazelnut farming. Despite this setback, Ferrero continues to be a beloved brand in Australia, with its products enjoyed by Australians of all ages.

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Ferrero opened its first plant outside Europe in Lithgow, Australia

Nutella is owned by Ferrero, a company that was founded in Italy in 1946. Ferrero's first plant outside Europe was opened in Lithgow, Australia, in 1974. The company has been bringing joy to Australian and New Zealand consumers since then with its iconic brands like Ferrero Rocher, Kinder, Nutella, and Tic Tac.

Lithgow was chosen for its first factory outside Europe because it shared many similarities with Ferrero's Italian home in Alba. These included a cooler climate, an easily accessible location, and a close-knit community. The factory in Lithgow has been the home of local Nutella manufacturing for over 40 years, servicing key markets, including Australia, New Zealand, and East Asia.

The Ferrero factory in Lithgow has grown to become an Australian icon, producing around 13,500 tonnes (or 13.5 million kilograms) of Nutella every year. The factory is also a major employer in the region, providing a safe and stable working environment for its employees. Over the years, the number of employees has increased from around 20 in the 1970s to more than 100 today.

Ferrero Australia is committed to promoting environmentally safe practices and has implemented initiatives to minimise waste, improve resource efficiency, and increase the use of renewable energy at the Lithgow factory. Their efforts have been recognised by the NSW Sustainability Advantage program, which awarded Ferrero Gold member status for the third consecutive time in 2023.

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Ferrero invested $70 million in an Australian hazelnut farm in 2018

Nutella is a brand of the Ferrero Group, a company founded in Italy in 1946. It is one of the world's largest chocolate producers and has over 35 iconic brands sold in more than 170 countries. Ferrero has been bringing joy to Australian consumers since 1974 with iconic brands like Nutella, Ferrero Rocher, Kinder, and Tic Tac.

In 2018, Ferrero invested $70 million in a 2,600-hectare hazelnut farm in Narrandera, Australia. The farm was expected to boost local hazelnut production and reduce the company's reliance on external growers for nuts for its confectionery products. Ferrero hoped to harvest around 5,000 tonnes of hazelnuts from its NSW operations by 2022. However, in 2023, Ferrero announced that it was abandoning the farm due to unfavourable long-term climate conditions. The company stated that the region's climate was not conducive to hazelnut farming, and the farm was put up for sale.

The decision to discontinue the farm was a setback for the hazelnut industry and a blow to the establishment of a commercial-scale hazelnut growing industry in Australia. It also raised questions about the use of Australian taxpayer funds to support the development of the farm, with some farmers expressing concern about the use of government grants for multinational companies.

Despite the disappointment, Ferrero's investment in the Australian hazelnut farm demonstrates its commitment to innovation and responsible sourcing of ingredients. The company has emphasized respect, integrity, and sustainability as part of its culture and values.

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Ferrero has since abandoned the farm, citing an unsuitable climate

Nutella is produced by the Italian company Ferrero, which was founded in 1946 in Alba, Piedmont, Italy. Ferrero is a family-owned company that has become one of the world's largest packaged food companies, with over 35 iconic brands sold in more than 170 countries.

In 2018, Ferrero invested $70 million in a hazelnut farm in New South Wales, Australia, with the goal of establishing an Australian production centre for Nutella. The company planted one million hazelnut trees on the 2,600-hectare property, aiming to produce 5,000 tonnes of hazelnuts by 2020.

However, in November 2023, Ferrero announced that it would be abandoning the farm, citing an unsuitable long-term climate for hazelnut farming. The decision came after a pilot study found that the region's climate was not conducive to hazelnut farming due to recent adverse weather conditions. The farm, located in southern NSW, was expected to sell for more than $80 million.

This decision was not made lightly, as Ferrero stated in a press release: "Given recent adverse weather conditions, the pilot study found that the region's climate in the long term is not conducive to hazelnut farming." Despite this setback, Ferrero remains committed to bringing joy to Australian consumers with its iconic brands, including Nutella, Ferrero Rocher, Kinder, and Tic Tac.

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Frequently asked questions

No, Nutella is not Australian-owned. The Ferrero Group, the company that owns Nutella, is Italian and was founded in Alba, Piedmont, Italy in 1946.

Yes, Nutella is available in Australia and has been since at least 1974 when Ferrero began selling its products in the country.

Nutella does not have a factory in Australia. However, in 2018, Ferrero invested $70 million in a hazelnut farm in New South Wales with the aim of establishing an Australian production centre. Unfortunately, in 2023, Ferrero gave up on the farm, citing the region's climate as not conducive to hazelnut farming.

Nutella sources its hazelnuts from various regions, including Italy, Turkey, Chile, and Georgia. While there have been attempts to source hazelnuts locally in Australia, these efforts have been discontinued due to challenges in finding suitable varieties for the warmer, drier climate.

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