Michele Ferrero, the founder of the Italian Nutella and Ferrero Rocher Empire died on Saturday, Valentine’s Day at the age of 89.
Michele Ferrero’s chocolate Empire made him Italy’s richest man. His privately-owned firm is famous for its chocolate-hazelnut Nutella spread, Ferrero Rocher chocolates, Kinder eggs and Tic Tac sweets.
According to foreign media reports, Ferrero had been battling illness for several months. He died in Monte Carlo on Saturday. Italian President Sergio Mattarella said in a statement, “I have learnt with emotion of the passing of Michele Ferrero, a true entrepreneur, known and loved in Italy and abroad. We are proud of you. Thank you Michele”.
Forbes gave him the title of ‘Richest Candyman on Planet’ with a wealth of $23.4 billion.
Ferrero's father, Pietro, turned the family pastry shop into a production facility back in the 1940s. Because of World War II, chocolate was rationed, so he mixed in hazelnuts to produce more product. The spread now known as Nutella was once six times less expensive than chocolate. It now produces tons upon tons of Nutella every year, an amount that weighs as much as the Empire State Building. Ferrero products came to the United States in 1969, foreign media reported.
Comments
Comments are closed.