The largest Nutella production plant in the world, located in Villers-Ecalles, in the north-west of France, was fined a total of 24,400 euros for breaches concerning the safety of this site of the Italian group Ferrero, we learned Thursday from the authorities.
On 10 November, the inspector from the regional department for the environment and development (Dreal) noted that 45 “pressure equipment, including several refrigerated ones, were overdue for periodic inspection”, according to two prefectural decrees of the 1st of March.
However, “the absence of these regulatory controls does not allow knowledge of the condition of this equipment which (…) presents a high potential danger”, according to the text.
In view of these shortcomings, “it is not possible to ensure the required level of security”, concludes the prefecture.
The factory employs 400 people, according to Ferrero
Asked by AFP, a communication officer from the Ferrero group indicated that the discrepancies noted were in the process of being resorbed thanks to an investment plan of 36 million euros which had been announced in January.
“The remaining discrepancies relate solely to administrative and documentary aspects,” the group said in an email to AFP.
“During the Dreal control, no equipment was shut down,” according to this email.
Ferrero posted a turnover of 12.3 billion euros for its financial year ended August 31, 2020, an increase of 7.8% compared to the previous financial year, according to the Italian group’s website.
The group employs 40,000 people worldwide, including 1,450 in France.
