PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Ferrero North America, maker of Ferrero Rocher, Nutella, Tic Tac and Kinder, has opened a new distribution center in Jonestown, Pa., to support Ferrero’s growth and integration of new brands.

The 730,000-square-foot distribution center adds capacity for Ferrero North America’s recently acquired portfolio of former Nestle USA chocolate brands, including Baby Ruth, Butterfinger and Crunch. Over time, the facility also will distribute other Ferrero brands, the company said. The new distribution center will add 225 local jobs by the end of 2020.

“The new Jonestown distribution center will play an important role in our U.S. and North American growth plans,” said Paul Chibe, president and chief executive officer of Ferrero North America.

As part of Ferrero’s commitment to sustainability, the distribution center will include lithium-powered lifts as an energy- and cost-savings initiative, an energy-saving HVAC system and zero-waste-landfill practices to reduce environmental impact.

DHL Supply Chain North America manages the new Ferrero facility, providing services such as shipment consolidation, packaging, distribution and inventory management.

"We were immediately attracted to Ferrero's vision for future growth and believed our proven processes to consistently deliver predictability and cost certainty uniquely positioned us to help them increase capacity and achieve that vision," said Franklin Littleton, president of DHL Supply Chain’s North American consumer business. "The addition of this new facility is an exciting and critical step in continuing to deliver on Ferrero's growth strategy as it will bring its products to the market with even greater speed and efficiency."

The new distribution center is one of several strategic investments propelling the confectionery company’s footprint in the United States. Ferrero also announced an expansion of its North American headquarters in New Jersey and an opening of a new office in Washington, D.C. Additionally, former Nestle plants in Bloomington and Franklin Park, Ill., will come under Ferrero Group management in January.