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THE BEGINNING IN ALBA AND THE FOLLOWING YEARS
We have to return to the ‘40s to discover the roots of this success. These were the years when Piera and Pietro, Michele’s parents, transformed a pastry shop into a factory. The Ferrero’ Family was the first Italian manufacturer after World War II to open production sites and offices abroad in the confectionary sector, turning the Company into a truly international Group. These first and decisive steps forward were thanks to the products “invented” by Pietro Ferrero and his son Michele, who was then very young. Another key to success was the effective sales network organized by Giovanni, Pietro’s brother, who died in 1949.
A WORLDWIDE SUCCESS
Following the success of the company in Italy, Michele Ferrero decided to start producing also abroad. In 1956 a large plant in Germany was inaugurated and a short time later a plant in France. It was the prelude to a rapid expansion of Ferrero in Europe, with the establishment of commercial offices and production centers in Belgium, The Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, United Kingdom, Ireland and Spain. In the following decades Ferrero becomes global, with companies and plants in North and South America, South East Asia, Eastern Europe, Africa, Australia; and, more recently, in Turkey, Mexico and China.
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1964
Nutella is launched
1968
Kinder Chocolate is launched
1969
The rebel of the category is launched
1974
The Kinder division enlarges the Kinder Family
1982
Ferrero Rocher is launched
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THE FIRST ACQUISITIONS
During 2015, Ferrero opened the dawn of a new era for our company through two important acquisitions. In March, the Company obtained the final approval to start the integration process with Oltan, now Ferrero Findik, the leading company for collecting, roasting and trading hazelnuts in Turkey. The second acquisition, as of August, was Thorntons, the chocolate confectionary company founded in 1911 in the United Kingdom. Thorntons, employing more than 3.300 people, is now part of our extended family. We both have rich family histories and share a strong commitment to delighting customers with high quality, premium confectionary products.
THE GROUP SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Ferrero is now steadily ranked among the first companies in the world for its reputation. Certainly, this is due also to the social responsibility initiatives of the Group. These are summarized in Ferrero’s CSR strategy, which is focused on the highest quality and innovation, transparent communication, the care for people that have made and are still making the Group’s history, the support of local communities, the promotion of active lifestyles amongst young people as well as its strong engagement towards sustainable agricultural practices and the protection of the environment.
Today, Giovanni Ferrero continues to run the Company successfully, aiming to reach goals that are even more ambitious and ensuring that the company inspiration and motivation that was so strongly shared with his father Michele and his brother. Today, just as yesterday, it is a structure based on solid family values.