Ferrero SpA

Ferrero International SpA
Company typePrivate
IndustryFood
Founded14 May 1946 (1946-05-14)
FounderPietro Ferrero
Headquarters,
Italy
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Giovanni Ferrero (executive chairman)
ProductsConfectionery
Brands
RevenueIncrease 11.37 billion (fiscal year 2019)
€1,034 million (FY 2018–2019)
OwnerFerrero family
Number of employees
36,372 (2020)[1]
SubsidiariesBurton's Biscuit Company
Eat Natural
Ferrara Candy Company
Fox's Biscuits
Websiteferrero.com

Ferrero International SpA (Italian pronunciation: [ferˈrɛːro]), more commonly known as Ferrero Group or simply Ferrero, is an Italian multinational company with headquarters in Alba. Ferrero is a manufacturer of branded chocolate and confectionery products, and the second biggest chocolate producer and confectionery company in the world.[2] Ferrero SpA is a private company owned by the Ferrero family and has been described as "one of the world's most secretive firms".[3] Reputation Institute's 2009 survey ranked Ferrero as the most reputable company in the world.[4]

It was founded on 14 May 1946 in Alba, Piedmont, Italy, by Pietro Ferrero, a confectioner and small-time pastry maker who laid the groundwork for Nutella. The company saw a period of tremendous growth and success under Pietro's son Michele Ferrero, who in turn handed over the daily operations to his sons, Pietro Jr. and Giovanni Ferrero (the founder's grandsons).

Pietro Jr., who oversaw global business, died in April 2011 of a heart attack while cycling in South Africa at the age of 47.

The Ferrero Group worldwide – now headed by executive chairman Giovanni Ferrero – includes 38 trading companies, 18 factories, and approximately 40,000 employees, and produces around 365,000 tonnes of Nutella each year.[5]

  1. ^ "Ferrero". Owler.
  2. ^ Brat, Ilan; McCracken, Jeffrey; Cimilluca, Dana (9 November 2009). "Hershey Plots Cadbury Bid". The Wall Street Journal. [Ferrero] is known for the secrecy with which it guards its chocolate recipes and its management decisions.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Guardian 2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Kneale, Klaus (6 May 2009). "World's Most Reputable Companies: The Rankings". Forbes.
  5. ^ "Michele Ferrero, Nutella owner and Italy's richest man, dies aged 89". afp.com. 15 February 2015. Archived from the original on 20 February 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2016.