Governor Hochul Celebrates Latest Milestone in Wells Enterprises’ $425 Million Ice Cream Manufacturing Transformation in Dunkirk

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the latest milestone of Wells Enterprises' state-of-the-art manufacturing facility expansion in Dunkirk. A ribbon cutting was held for the $425 million project, which includes the recently completed state-of-the-art employee center and new production lines. The facility significantly increases production capacity for the company's popular ice cream brands, introduces cutting-edge capabilities for future innovation, and features a first-of-its-kind chocolate manufacturing facility within the plant to produce ingredients for its ice cream and novelty lines.

"We have built incredible momentum in Chautauqua County's manufacturing sector, and the progress of this massive expansion is a historic win for Dunkirk and the entire region," Governor Hochul said. "By partnering with Wells Enterprises, we have transformed this site into a high-tech, world-class manufacturing facility that will secure hundreds of good-paying jobs for New York workers and strengthen our local business partnerships and provide an enduring boost to our hard-working dairy farmers."

This landmark investment will bring 270 new jobs to the area while retaining approximately 380 existing full-time positions, marking one of the largest single private investments in the history of Chautauqua County. New York State supported the project with up to $12 million in Excelsior Jobs & Investment Program tax credits and a $6 million grant from Empire State Development. The County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) also provided critical local assistance to bring the project to fruition.

Wells Enterprises COO Nicolas Neykov said, "We couldn't be more excited to celebrate the opening of our state-of-the-art new employee facility, giving our people the space, tools, and technology they deserve. This milestone is about them, our team members, who play a pivotal role in our ambition to be the U.S. ice cream category growth leader and continue to bring joy to our consumers every day. We are extremely grateful to the State of New York, Chautauqua County, and the community of Dunkirk for their unwavering support throughout this journey."

The Dunkirk facility, located at 810 Main Street, spans approximately 350,000 square feet, more than doubling its original footprint. The plant's high-tech production lines are engineered to scale total output to more than five times its previous capacity, supporting the company's aggressive growth in novelty and packaged ice cream. The completed expansion features high-output manufacturing lines, an integrated chocolate compound manufacturing facility, and best-in-class breakrooms, offices, and amenities designed to offer a premier working environment for employees. Throughout the multi-year construction process to date, Wells maintained full ice cream production in its existing facility to satisfy consumer demand. Construction is still underway to complete additional production lines and expand processing capabilities and is expected to be completed in 2028.

The company's scaling operations will heavily benefit the northeast dairy industry. The expanded facility continues to utilize millions of pounds of dairy annually, a volume projected to rise in tandem with growing domestic consumption. Industry forecasts show the ice cream market size in the U.S. is projected to grow significantly, reaching an estimated value of USD 28.56 billion by 2032, driven by high demand for frozen dairy desserts and the rising number of fast-food chains and restaurants in the country. Additionally, New York ranks fourth nationally in ice cream manufacturing, with 51 payrolled business locations positioning the state third in total nationwide ice cream production.

Wells Enterprises, Inc. is a part of the Ferrero Group, a global leader in sweet, packaged foods whose iconic brands include Nutella, Tic Tac, and Ferrero Rocher. As the largest privately held ice cream manufacturer in the United States, Wells was founded in 1913 by Fred H. Wells and operated by the Wells family for generations. Today, Wells produces more than 200 million gallons of ice cream annually, distributing products across all 50 states and employing approximately 4,000 workers nationwide. The company is founded in Le Mars, Iowa, and its Dunkirk facility serves as a vital anchor in its national manufacturing network supporting production across the family of brands including its core Blue Bunny as well as global Ferrero brands such as Nutella Ice Cream and Kinder Bueno Frozen.

The expanded ice cream plant will continue to seamlessly utilize Americold's cold-storage distribution facility located in the Town of Dunkirk, which provides critical supply-chain infrastructure for the region. Americold's adjacent $41 million project was supported by up to $700,000 in performance-based tax credits through the Excelsior Jobs Program in exchange for creating 60 full-time jobs.

Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Hope Knight said, "Seeing this monumental manufacturing facility fully expanded and operational is incredibly exciting. It reflects total confidence in the local workforce, our award-winning dairy suppliers, and our strong state and local partnerships. Wells will continue to innovate from a position of strength here in Dunkirk. Thanks to Governor Hochul's vision, we are securing the manufacturing jobs of tomorrow right here in Chautauqua County."

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, "This historic investment is connecting the dots at its best. By more than doubling its footprint and increasing capacity, Wells Enterprises is ensuring that our state's exceptional dairy products, made with local milk from area farmers, continue to reach consumers nationwide. I thank Governor Hochul and Wells Enterprises for their commitment to Western New York and to supporting New York agriculture, which is a major driver of our economy and fuels our local communities."

Dunkirk Mayor Kate Wdowiasz said, "We are thrilled to celebrate the completion of Wells Enterprises' historic $425 million investment in the City of Dunkirk. This facility secures a bright economic future for northern Chautauqua County by bringing 270 new jobs to our community. Together, we are building a path toward long-term prosperity, ensuring Dunkirk continues to thrive as a hub for advanced manufacturing."

Chautauqua County Executive Paul M. Wendel Jr. said, "Wells Enterprises' $425 million investment is a tremendous vote of confidence in Dunkirk, Chautauqua County and the people who call this community home. This expansion not only strengthens one of our region's leading manufacturing operations, but also creates 270 new opportunities for local families while supporting the hundreds of jobs already here. We are proud to have worked alongside Wells, the City of Dunkirk, CCIDA and New York State to make this historic project a reality. This is exactly the kind of investment that strengthens our economy, supports our dairy industry and positions Chautauqua County for continued growth for generations to come."

CCIDA CEO Mark Geise said, "Today's ribbon cutting is an exciting milestone for Wells Enterprises, Dunkirk, Chautauqua County, and the region and we are extremely proud of the role the CCIDA played and continues to play in helping bring this transformational project to fruition. We are grateful to Wells for their tremendous commitment to our community and workforce by preserving and creating hundreds of family-sustaining jobs that will benefit our region for years to come."

About Empire State Development

Empire State Development is New York's chief economic development agency, and promotes business growth, job creation, and greater economic opportunity throughout the state. With offices in each of the state's 10 regions, ESD oversees the Regional Economic Development Councils, supports broadband equity through the ConnectALL office, and is growing the workforce of tomorrow through the Office of Strategic Workforce Development. The agency engages with emerging and next generation industries like clean energy and semiconductor manufacturing looking to grow in New York State, operates a network of assistance centers to help small businesses grow and succeed, and promotes the state's world class tourism destinations through I LOVE NY. For more information, please visit esd.ny.gov, and connect with ESD on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X.