Fire Disrupts Nutella Production at French Factory

Fire erupted Tuesday morning in northern France at the largest plant manufacturing Nutella in the world.

At about 5 a.m., fire broke out in a Ferrero company roaster, the Departmental Fire and Rescue Service of Seine-Maritime (SDIS 76) Facebook page reports. The Villers-Ecalles plant produces nearly a quarter of the Nutella supply in the world.

Twenty-two firefighters and five rescue vehicles were immediately dispatched to the factory.

When firefighters arrived, heavy smoke forced the evacuation of nearly 100 workers at the scene. Firefighters brought the fire under control within 90 minutes and were ready to leave by 7 a.m.

According to SDIS 76, Ferrero’s production at the factory could be affected by the fire. The Villers-Ecalles plant normally ships 600,000 jars per day of the hazelnut and chocolate spread.

A strike at the same plant in June 2019 triggered rumors of a Nutella shortage throughout the country.