Ferrero

The story of Ferrero began in the small town of Alba, nestled in the beautiful Piedmont hills of Italy, in 1946. This was when Pietro Ferrero, an Italian pastry shop owner, moved his family to settle in Alba. Today, Rimping Supermarket takes you on a deep dive into the history of this global chocolate empire.

The Genesis of an Idea: Giandujot and the Founding of Ferrero (1946 AD)

Originally, Pietro Ferrero had opened a biscuit shop supplying the Italian army stationed in Eritrea, East Africa. However, business was not good, so he moved his family back to Italy, coinciding with the start of World War II.

After World War II ended, cocoa became expensive. Pietro Ferrero then came up with an idea to reduce chocolate production costs. He combined molasses, coconut oil, a small amount of cocoa, and hazelnuts (a cheap nut widely cultivated in Alba) to create a sweet treat called Giandujot. It was shaped like a brick, wrapped in wax paper, and people loved slicing it thinly to eat with bread.

Pietro Ferrero sold his confectionery at an affordable price, making chocolate accessible to everyone. As a result, his products sold extremely well. Soon after, he invited his brother, Giovanni Ferrero, who had experience in the food wholesale business, to join him. Together, they founded the Ferrero company in 1946.

From Giandujot to Nutella and Empire Expansion (1949 - 1969 AD)

However, Pietro Ferrero did not live to see his brand's success. He passed away in 1949 from a heart attack. His brother then had to manage the business alone. In 1957, Giovanni also passed away from a heart attack. Thus, Michele Ferrero, Pietro's son, took over the family business.

In 1962, Michele Ferrero developed the original recipe by adding more cocoa and butter, transforming the sweet treat into a chocolate spread in a jar called Nutella. After its launch, the brand achieved immense success, making Nutella famous worldwide. (Currently, Ferrero's factories can produce up to 365,000 tons, or 365,000,000 kilograms, of Nutella per year).

Soon after, Michele Ferrero expanded the business into the German market, where the company converted a former Nazi missile factory into a confectionery plant. Later, he expanded the business to Belgium, Austria, and France.

Subsequently, in 1969, Michele launched milk-filled chocolate bars named Kinder, targeting children. Later, he had the idea to make chocolate in an egg shape, inspired by Easter, and hid small toys inside, calling it Kinder Surprise. This also achieved great success, making his egg-shaped chocolates a favorite among children worldwide.

Kinder Surprise was the product with the highest milk content among all Ferrero products because Michele believed that parents would likely choose products with more milk for their children.

Ferrero Rocher and the Third Generation's Legacy (1982 AD - Present)

Over time, in 1982, the Ferrero company achieved another monumental success with the launch of Ferrero Rocher, the elegant gold-foil-wrapped chocolates familiar to everyone. Made from chocolate mixed with hazelnuts, encased in a crispy wafer shell, this chocolate format represents the brand's most premium product line.

Since its launch, Ferrero Rocher has captivated chocolate lovers worldwide with its luxurious taste and presentation. People often purchase them as gifts for various festivals, such as Christmas, New Year, and Valentine's Day. They remain popular today, with distribution extended to over 170 countries worldwide.

Later, the Ferrero business was passed on to the third generation, Michele's sons, Pietro and Giovanni (named after his father and uncle). Both took over the business from Michele in 1997, with Pietro overseeing production and Giovanni managing the company's marketing and finance.

In 2011, the Ferrero family faced another great sorrow when Pietro passed away from a heart attack while cycling in South Africa. However, the family's grief did not end there, as on February 14, 2015, Valentine's Day, Michele Ferrero passed away at the age of 89. Tens of thousands of people gathered to pay their final respects to him in Alba, as this loss was considered a great loss for the Italian people as well.

Despite facing losses, today, Ferrero remains a prominent and globally recognized brand in the world of confectionery. Under the leadership of Giovanni Ferrero, the business continues to grow, making the Ferrero family the richest billionaires in Italy and ranking among the top 50 wealthiest people in the world.