Italian chemist Francesco Rivella, known as the "Father of Nutella," passed away last Friday at the age of 97. Rivella worked at the Ferrero company for over 40 years, contributing to the development of popular products such as Nutella, Tic Tac, and Kinder. As the right-hand man of Michele Ferrero, he played a significant role in creating Nutella and choosing its name.
Rivella joined Ferrero in 1952 at the age of 25 and began his professional life studying raw materials used in various company products. At that time, the famous brand of confectionery had existed for only six years, and it was located in a small town called Alba in northern Italy. The Ferrero brothers, Pietro and Giovanni, followed an experimental approach in their work, starting out with small batches made at their family confectionery.
In the following decades, significant changes took place in the brand, and Rivella participated in gaining new ingredients and analyzing flavors, contributing to the emergence of many well-known global brands. The Ferrero Group today employs more than 47,000 people and sells its products in more than 170 countries. Rivella's departure leaves an unforgettable mark in the world of confectionery and emphasizes his significance as an outstanding figure in the history of Ferrero.