DUNKIRK — Wells Enterprises has announced plans for the expansion of its Dunkirk manufacturing facility, which would bring more than 200 new jobs to the Dunkirk community. The expansion underscores the company’s commitment to long-term growth and leadership in the ice cream category.

“We are extremely excited to build on the strength of our team in Dunkirk and continue to work with the community to grow and expand our operations here. The investment in Dunkirk illustrates our passion to provide high-quality premium ice cream products that bring joy to consumers around the world. The planned expansion also reinforces our dedication to our team, consumers, and the community as a critical part of the long-term future of our company,” said Liam Killeen, CEO of Wells Enterprises.

New York state Gov. Kathy Hochul said the project will allow the company to add more new jobs and retain 401 existing full-time jobs. New York state is supporting the project with up to $10 million in Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits and a $6 million grant from Empire State Development in exchange for job creation and capital investment commitments. The Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency is also working with the management team of Wells to provide the support necessary for company executives to officially greenlight the project.

“The new, state-of-art ice cream manufacturing plant in Chautauqua County will create jobs and spur economic growth for years to come,” Hochul said. “This project is a win for hundreds of plant workers, a victory for many local business partners that benefit from the facility, and an important success story for the region’s overall economy.”

The Dunkirk manufacturing facility plays an important role in the company’s expansion plans for its national manufacturing network of its Blue Bunny, Halo Top, Bomb Pop and Blue Ribbon Classics brands. The expansion is anticipated to more than double the facility’s current production output and help support the company’s continued plans for growth in novelty and packaged ice cream, while enabling future innovation.

“The planned expansion of the Dunkirk facility follows our team’s continued strong performance over the last several months. That, coupled with the continued growth plan for our brands and the category overall makes expanding our Dunkirk facility the right choice for Wells,” added Mark Meyer, COO of Wells Enterprises. “We are extremely grateful for the partnerships with Empire State Development, Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency, and the City of Dunkirk as their support remains critical to take us over the finish line on this incredibly exciting project.”

The company’s success is strongly supported by local dairy farmers who provide the majority of the fluid milk used at the facility today. The planned expansion will continue to utilize millions of pounds of dairy annually. That number is expected to grow along with the overall consumption of ice cream. Fortune Business Insights estimates the global ice cream market will reach $104.96 billion in 2029, up from $71.52 billion in 2021–a 46 percent jump in less than a decade due to the world’s craving for ice cream.

The Ferrero Group recently acquired Wells Enterprises, its operations and its ice cream brands. The two family-owned businesses have a strong history of success. Ferrero, which was founded in 1946, has grown to become a global leader in sweet-packaged foods, including confectionary, ice cream, biscuits, and snacks. Wells has become the world’s largest family owned and managed ice cream company since it was founded in 1913 as a dairy delivery business.

Mark Geise, CEO of the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency, said, “I am proud that the CCIDA was able to assist the Ferrero Group and Wells Enterprises in bringing this exciting project to fruition. They have been a great partner, and I am grateful that they recognize the quality of the workforce in Dunkirk and chose to make their investment here in our community.”

The ice cream plant will also continue to utilize Americold’s new cold-storage distribution facility located in the Town of Dunkirk, which is providing much-needed storage for the food supply chain in the area. Americold’s $41 million project was supported by up to $700,000 in performance-based taxed credits through the Excelsior Jobs Program in return for the creation of 60 full-time jobs.

Construction is planned to begin in the fall, with official groundbreaking in early 2024. This follows the growth vision highlighted during the December acquisition by the Ferrero Group. Wells Enterprises expects the project, with the necessary approvals and in collaboration with local and state officials, to be operational by late 2025.

State Sen. George Borrello said, “Wells Enterprises’ expanded investment in our region is a huge ‘win’ that will create jobs, boost demand from our dairy farmers and enhance our local economy. With its strong foothold in the food processing industry, Dunkirk has the infrastructure and workforce necessary to support this exciting expansion. My appreciation goes out to the Governor, the team at Empire State Development and all the local partners who worked to make this happen. It’s a testament to the great things that can be achieved through collaboration.”

Assemblyman Andrew Goodell said, “The ice cream facility operated by Wells has been an extremely important part of the economy of Northern Chautauqua County for many decades. It is very exciting to see this substantial investment and a corresponding increase in employment. This project will help ensure that this facility will continue for many years to make high quality ice cream and novelty products with a well-deserved reputation for great taste!”

City of Dunkirk Mayor Willie Rosas said, “The City of Dunkirk is excited for Wells Enterprises 21st Century rebuild and expansion. We are pleased for the hundreds of hard-working employees now at Wells – and the hundreds to be added with the planned expansion – who can plan and build on a generation’s worth of good-paying jobs. These jobs will help populate our schools, create additional value in our city, and allow the employees and their families to live, work, and thrive in our community.”