Ferrero is expanding its UK footprint with the global launch of an all-new Wonka confectionery and ice cream range, developed through a collaboration between its UK research & development team and manufacturing site in Alfreton, Derbyshire.

Local innovation, global reach

The launch represents a major milestone for Ferrero UK, drawing on decades of confectionery expertise and the company’s Alfreton Centre of Excellence. By bringing together local research, product design, and specialised manufacturing with global brand-building capabilities, Ferrero is delivering imaginative, high-quality products across chocolate, sugar confectionery, and ice cream categories to the UK, Ireland, and global markets.

“This launch is a proud moment for Ferrero in the UK,” said Craig Barker, managing director of Ferrero UK and Ireland. “Our Alfreton team has played a key role in bringing the new Wonka range to life, combining deep confectionery expertise with the creativity, craft and technical capability needed to reimagine such an iconic brand for today’s consumers. The fact that products developed with UK expertise will be enjoyed by consumers in the UK, Ireland and other markets around the world speaks to the strength of our people, our manufacturing capability and our continued investment in innovation here in Derbyshire.”

£35m investment in Alfreton manufacturing

The Wonka range forms part of Ferrero’s investment of over £35 million in its Alfreton site since 2018. Over the past decade, this capital injection has modernised the plant’s capabilities, expanded production, and established it as a Centre of Excellence for assortments and model figures across the broader Ferrero Group.

Multi-category portfolio & retail rollout

Designed to capture nostalgia while delivering unexpected new taste experiences, the multi-category line-up includes:

• Wonka Magic Hats: combining Derbyshire chocolate-making heritage with popping candy, refined praline, and hazelnut notes.
• Wonka Purplypurple Milk Chocolate Bar: Bringing nostalgic flavor profiles into chocolate block formats.
• Wonka Oompa Loompa Milk Chocolate Hollow Figurines & Kinder Joy Egg: Leveraging Alfreton’s specialised figure-moulding capabilities.
• Wonka Magic Garden Ropes & Wonka Oompa Loompa Gummies: Expanding into fruit-flavoured sugar confectionery.

“Close collaboration between our Alfreton manufacturing team and global colleagues has been instrumental in delivering products that capture the creativity, quality and sense of wonder at the heart of the Wonka brand,” added Gary Youren, head of R&D for Ferrero UK and Ireland. “Developing this range has been about balancing creativity with technical excellence, while staying true to Ferrero’s standards of quality, craftsmanship and great taste.”

The new range debuts initially in Morrisons and Asda, before expanding across additional major UK and Ireland retailers, including Tesco.