TRENOS SiGINT: Ferrero Expands Global Hazelnut Supply

JC Analyst:  October 2025

Signal:

The Ferrero Chilean expansion (backed by its agricultural subsidiary Agrichile) strengthens year-round hazelnut flow into its confectionery plants and secures traceable, high-oleic nuts certified to Ferrero’s “Horizon” sustainability standards. Chile’s Mediterranean-style climate mirrors parts of Victoria, Australia and Canterbury, New Zealand, making this development a potential template for ANZ diversification into premium nut crops.

Human Factor:

Farmers in the Southern Hemisphere are searching for resilient, high-value crops as rainfall patterns shift. Hazelnuts, once seen as a European curiosity, offer perennial income, soil stability, and export premiums when linked to global supply programs like Ferrero’s. The consumer story at the other end of the chain remains one of trust: traceable indulgence built on transparent origins.

TRENOS Metrics Snapshot

Field	Value
Signal	Global confectionery brand localises nut supply via Southern Hemisphere orchards
Data Point	Ferrero subsidiary Agrichile operates ~7 000 ha of hazelnuts across central Chile
TikTok Views	N/A – Potential for “from farm to jar” storytelling
Retail Footprint	Hazelnuts feed directly into Ferrero’s EU plants; no retail brand yet in Chile
Ingredient Format	Whole hazelnuts → paste → Nutella / Kinder
Product Range	Confectionery + plant-based spread (Nutella Plant-Based)
Consumer Segment	Conscious indulgence / traceability-minded buyers
Brand Origin	Italy (Ferrero Group)
Export Status	Chilean hazelnuts exported to Europe & U.S.
Trend Classification	Climate-resilient supply chains / ingredient sovereignty
System Pressure Point	Rising climate risk in traditional nut regions (Turkey, Italy)
Momentum	High—multi-region planting underway since 2014, now maturing
Sentiment	Positive for supply-chain resilience; mixed on palm-oil use elsewhere
Where Signal Is Loudest	Chile / Italy / global agrifood media
Related Links	Agrichile overview

Long Play: Could ANZ Grow Hazelnuts for Ferrero?

Ferrero’s bet on Chile underscores a larger strategic truth: ingredient security is the new luxury. By planting in opposite hemispheres, the company ensures continuous nut supply and buffers against European frost and geopolitical shocks. The Southern Hemisphere provides sunlight when the north sleeps, literally extending the global harvest calendar as Zespri has done with it's Italian kiwifruit orchards.

For Australia and New Zealand, the opportunity is tangible. Both countries possess the latitude, soils and irrigation infrastructure suited to hazelnut, almond, macadamia and walnut systems. Yet nut acreage remains limited compared with viticulture or dairy. With the right cultivar selection (cold-tolerant Corylus avellana) and value-chain partnerships, ANZ could replicate Chile’s model, linking small growers with processor-led traceability and export guarantees.

The convergence of climate adaptation, high-value horticulture, and plant-based demand makes nuts a future-fit crop for the region. Whether via Ferrero, Mondelez, or emerging plant-protein processors seeking lipid and texture functionality, Southern Hemisphere nut industries could play a vital role in the next decade’s food-system recalibration.

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