Serbian products not to be used as Nutella ingredients? – Ferrero to use Italian hazelnuts exclusively from 2025

Ferrero plans to start using hazelnuts produced in Italy exclusively for its famous Nutella from 2025.

In addition to Italy, Ferrero gets hazelnuts from Turkey, Chile and South Africa at the moment.

The producer of the renowned sweet spread announced the plan for 20,000 hectares of new hazelnut plantations, an increase by 30%.

The question is whether this might impact Serbian producers that have formed hazelnut plantations in cooperation with the company, but also those that have done it on their own accord, in hope of getting into the business.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of Serbia has no information about the internal plans of Ferrero, which are a part of its business policy, as they told B92.

When asked whether they are familiar with the Italian company's strategic plan to use only hazelnuts grown in Italy in Nutella, the Ministry says that Ferrero has not contacted them in connection with this topic.

– We point out that the agreements signed with Serbian hazelnut producers will not be brought into question in any case – the ministry points out.

They add that they have invited representatives of Ferrero for a meeting to the end of protecting the local production, getting full information and clarifying potential uncertainties.

Italy's Ferrero bought the property of the agricultural company Aleksa Santic for EUR 7.95 million three years ago, intending to plant 700,000 hazel seedlings on 40 hectares, and representatives of the Italian company also sought more land for hazelnut plantations for the needs of their confectionery production.

The production of hazelnuts in Serbia has progressed considerably in the past ten years, but the producers say that the demand still exceeds the supply, while the prices are good, making this a profitable business.

FERRERO Italy

Ministarstvo poljoprivrede, šumarstva i vodoprivrede Republike Srbije

Ferrero

Nutella

hazelnut

production of hazelnuts

growing hazelnuts

hazel

hazel seedlings

production of Nutella

export of hazelnuts

Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Water Management