Wells Enterprises, a Le Mars, Iowa-based, independent operating company of Ferraro Group, will expand its Dunkirk, N.Y., ice cream plant, bringing more than 200 new jobs to the western New York community, the company announced in a news release.
The Dunkirk plant, the company says, plays an important role in national expansion plans for the company’s Blue Bunny, Halo Top, Bomb Pop and Blue Ribbon Classics brands. The plant’s current throughput is expected to more than double after the expansion is completed, contributing a big boost to Wells’ expectations for growth in novelty and packaged ice cream.
Wells anticipates construction on the plant addition will begin this fall, and a groundbreaking officially scheduled in early 2024. The expansion is expected to be operational by late 2025.
Wells Enterprises was founded in 1913 and was acquired by Ferrero Group in December 2022. The Wells family has run the company, which produces more than 200 million gallons of ice cream per year, since its inception 110 years ago. The Dunkirk facility is one of four manufacturing facilities owned by Wells, with two others in Le Mars and one in Henderson, Nev.
