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Ferrero has launched an all-new confectionery range under the Wonka brand, marking a significant product introduction developed by its UK research and development team and produced at its manufacturing facility in Alfreton, Derbyshire.
The portfolio commenced its UK retail rollout on 14 September across Morrisons and Asda, with distribution scheduled to widen across additional grocery retailers, including Tesco on 22 October. Following the domestic debut, the range will expand internationally across the United States, Germany, Italy, and France.
Product Lineup and Formats
The new Wonka portfolio spans chocolate novelties, countlines, sugar confectionery, and brand crossover items:
🎩 Wonka Magic Hats: Enrobed chocolate shapes layered with praline fillings, popping candy inclusions, and hazelnut notes.
🍫 Wonka Purplypurple Milk Chocolate Bar: A moulded solid milk chocolate tablet block.
🍫 Wonka Oompa Loompa Milk Chocolate Hollow Figurines: Detailed hollow seasonal chocolate figures produced on Alfreton’s dedicated modelling lines.
🍬 Wonka Magic Garden Ropes: Extruded soft-chew confectionery ropes with fruit-flavoured fillings.
🍓 Wonka Oompa Loompa Gummies: Themed fruit-flavoured gummy confectionery pieces.
🥚 Wonka Kinder Joy Egg: A crossover format pairing Ferrero's dual-cream treat and cocoa wafer balls with themed collectable elements.
Manufacturing and Technical Investment at Alfreton
The commercialisation of the Wonka range relies on manufacturing infrastructure at Ferrero’s Alfreton plant, which serves as the group's Centre of Excellence for assortments and moulded figures. Over the past decade, Ferrero has invested more than £35 million in the Derbyshire facility to modernise capacity, expand output, and advance specialist decorative moulding lines.
To deliver the visual and structural requirements of the Wonka line, engineering and R&D teams designed and installed bespoke machinery at the site. The process translated conceptual kitchen prototypes into scaled, industrial production, integrating complex multi-layer deposits and inclusion handling.
"This launch is a proud moment for Ferrero in the UK," said Craig Barker, Managing Director of Ferrero UK and Ireland.
"Our Alfreton team has played a key role in bringing the new Wonka range to life, combining deep confectionery expertise with the creativity, craft and technical capability needed to reimagine such an iconic brand for today's consumers. The fact that products developed with UK expertise will be enjoyed by consumers in the UK, Ireland and other markets around the world speaks to the strength of our people, our manufacturing capability and our continued investment in innovation here in Derbyshire."
Development of the assortment focused on pairing multi-sensory textures with traditional flavour notes. The product formulation process was led by Ferrero's UK innovation hub, balancing confectionery nostalgia with updated food science principles.
"Wonka is hugely nostalgic and has existed for generations, so we looked at familiar flavours many people will remember from when they were younger and brought them to life in unexpected new ways," explained Gary Youren, Head of R&D at Ferrero UK and Ireland.
"Across the range, our goal was to combine nostalgic flavours with imaginative chocolate experiences, creating the sense of surprise and wonder that is synonymous with Wonka. Close collaboration between our Alfreton manufacturing team and global colleagues has been instrumental in delivering products that capture the creativity, quality and sense of wonder at the heart of the Wonka brand."
Retail Distribution
The Wonka range is currently available on shelves across Asda and Morrisons supermarkets in the UK. Distribution will expand into Tesco on 22 October, ahead of broader seasonal stock availability across independent retailers, convenience channels, and international grocery networks in autumn 2026.
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