“This celebration reflects the people, partnerships and shared commitment shaping the future of Wells Enterprises in Dunkirk,” says Wells Enterprises CEO Nicolas Neykov. “As we mark this next chapter of growth, we recognize our teams who are the heart of Wells. This transformation is more than an investment in equipment but reflects our commitment to supporting our skilled team with the resources needed to make the best ice cream and bring more joy to our consumers.”

In addition to the new employee center, the event also celebrated the startup of new production lines and capabilities that began late last year, including a segregated compound facility. Combining Wells’ ice cream manufacturing heritage with Ferrero’s global confectionery leadership, the chocolate manufacturing facility is the only Ferrero facility of its kind in the U.S. and creates new capabilities for long-term category growth and future innovation. The plant uses proprietary technology and highly customized capabilities to meet rigorous standards and enhance quality.

Wells Enterprises purchased the Dunkirk facility in 2019 and broke ground in 2024 on the multi-year, multi-phase transformation. This milestone marks the completion of Phases 1 and 2, including new infrastructure to support initial production lines, freezer capacity, the chocolate facility and the new employee center. Phase 3, which is currently underway, will add more production lines, while Phase 4 will expand processing capabilities, including raw materials. 

The full transformation is expected to be complete in 2028 and is projected to add 270 permanent jobs over the course of the next several years, while retaining existing roles. Once finished, the 350,000-sq.-ft. facility will be capable of operating 11 to 15 production lines and producing an estimated 20 million cases annually, up from 4 million cases previously.