Nurturing Tradition and Innovation: Ferrero’s Hazelnuts

Hazelnuts come from hazel trees, which grow mainly in Mediterranean-type climates and have been cultivated since ancient times. Some historians claim they were the first foodstuff to be cultivated by man. Today, there are more than 300 varieties. 

In Piedmont, where Ferrero was founded, the hazelnut is a symbol of redemption and rebirth – after the end of World War II, hazelnuts found the perfect growing area in the Alta Langa. Over the years Italy has become the second largest producer of hazelnuts globally. 

Our expertise and tradition with this fruit go back to our roots in Alba and the Langhe region in Piedmont. Hazelnuts are at the heart of Ferrero, forming a core part of our DNA and shaping the unique taste of many of our products since the company was established in 1946. 

To ensure a high-quality, fresh supply of hazelnuts all year round, our hazelnuts come from different parts of the world including Türkiye, Italy, Chile and the USA. Additionally, we also established the Ferrero Hazelnut Company (HCo), a dedicated division of 3,000 people that brings all our hazelnut activities together under one structure to drive quality and innovation. This commitment also led to the launch of the Ferrero Hazelnut Charter in 2021, setting a new standard for ethical and sustainable practices. The Charter outlines clear objectives across three main pillars:

1. Human Rights and Social Practices: Supporting farmers, ensuring child protection, and respecting labor rights.
2. Environmental Protection and Sustainability: Promoting good agricultural practices and biodiversity.
3. Supplier Transparency: Working towards full traceability in our hazelnut supply chain.

Ever since we launched the charter, we have reported our progress annually through the Hazelnut Progress Report. Our latest report, released recently, showcases significant achievements in creating a better hazelnut supply chain: 

• Engaged nearly 18,000 children through collective engagement and partnerships.
• Audited 1,163 farms against the Ferrero Farming Production Standard in the last 3 years.
• Deployed 4 Farm Management Plans at our Agrifarms, integrating Regenerative Agriculture principles.
• Reached over 21,000 farmers worldwide with guidelines for Sustainable Hazelnut Production.
• Achieved 90% traceability of our total sourced hazelnuts back to their farms. Ensured 100% of our suppliers have acknowledged our Supplier Code. 

We are proud of these accomplishments and invite you to read the full report here.

Looking Forward: The Ferrero Hazelnut Charter 2024-26 

Building on our progress, we have launched a new Ferrero Hazelnut Charter for 2024-26. This Charter is the result of a collaborative approach involving all functions of the Ferrero Hazelnut Company and our Ferrero’s Sustainability and Responsible Sourcing team and our external partners. This holistic strategy integrates local initiatives and departments, ensuring cohesive and impactful actions.

Our commitments under the new Charter remain anchored in the three pillars: 

• Human Rights and Social Practices: The key role of partnerships The new charter focuses on improving fair and safe working conditions in our hazelnut supply chain. We are setting higher standards and providing training on responsible recruitment, fair wages, working hours, health, safety, and housing. This ensures everyone in our supply chain is treated with respect and dignity.
   
• Environmental Protection: Implementing the principles of regenerative agriculture  The new charter aims to promote regenerative agriculture and encourages farmers in our supply chain to adopt these practices. We are committed to working together with the farming community to protect and sustain the environment for future generations.. 
   
• Supplier Transparency: Building on the high level of traceability  
  Traceability is more than a term; it's our promise to transparency. The new charter will enhance trust throughout the entire hazelnut value chain, from farm to factory. 

You can read the new Ferrero Hazelnut Charter 2024-2026 in full here.

To honor our commitments, we are also launching the 2024 Annual Hazelnut Action Plan. This plan details our steps to meet our commitments and the partners we will collaborate with on this journey.

You can read our detailed Action Plan here

Our dedication in a nutshell

Hazelnuts will always be an important ingredient to Ferrero, which is why we’re so passionate about fairest, most ethical getting all steps of the hazelnut supply chain right. We’ll keep pushing for sustainable practices when it comes to sourcing our hazelnuts – and the new charter and action plan show our long-term commitment to making change for the better.

To know more about how Ferrero is strongly committed to ensuring a responsible hazelnut supply chain that creates value for all visit - Our aim to source hazelnuts sustainably | Ferrero Group