Who was Francesco Rivella, the inventor of the Nutella who died at age 97

The inventor of the Nutella, Francesco Rivella, died at 97 last Friday, February 14. The chemist was the mind behind the famous hazelnut and cocoa cream that, over the years, became a worldwide success and positioned itself as one of the Main products of the Ferrero Group.

The death of the Nutella inventor

Rivella was born in 1928 in Barbaresco, a town in the province of Cneo located northwest of Italy. During his youth, He graduated in Bromatological Chemistry at the University of Turin. After this, at 25, the chemist arrived at the then Small Ferrero Company.

Since then, it was four decades of his professional life that Rivella dedicated to the Ferrero Group. There, together with Michele Ferrero and his brother Pietro, he performed a Key role in the expansion of the Italian brand to the global market.

Rivella was a close collaborator of businessman Ferrero. Both entrusted themselves to the task of growing the group. In this way, they sought to innovate in their products, for which they undertook numerous trips in Europe to analyze raw materials and study competition.

Nutella’s arrival was a turning point for the Ferrero Group. With its launch in 1964the product conquered the palate of the Italians and became a global phenomenon.

The hazelnut and cocoa cream – known as Giandujot – had already been developed in 1946 by Pietro Ferrero. However, Rivella was key in the success of the Nutella since it was who perfected and transformed the initial formula In the spreadable cream we know today.

In addition, Rivella also participated in the creation of other iconic products of the company. Among the most recognized are; Mon chéri (1956); ICT TAC (1969); Chocolate Kinder (1968); Kinder surprise (1974) and Ferrero Rocher (1982).

After his retirement in 1993, Rivella dedicated himself to fruit agriculture and pallapugno, a traditional Italian sport, in his beloved city of Alba. His legacy lasts not only in the products he helped create, but also in the culture of quality and innovation that he instilled in Ferrero.

World Nutella Day: Why is it celebrated on February 5

World Nutella Day celebrated almost two weeks ago, on February 5. The same was created in 2007 by the American blogger Sara Rosso, who, as a lover of this product, decided to establish a special day to share recipes, stories and moments around this delight. The initiative quickly went viral in social networks and was adopted by the Ferrero company, the Italian company behind the famous cream.

Since then, every year, millions of people around the world participate in the celebration sharing recipes, photographs and experiences with Nutella through social networks Under the hashtag #Worldnutelladay. The Ferrero company also promotes this date with special campaigns and exclusive content for fans

The Nutella transcended as a Symbol of pleasure and tradition in sweet gastronomy. Its history goes back to the 1940s, when Pietro Ferrero, an Italian pastry chef, developed a cocoa hazelnut paste as a cheaper alternative to chocolate, which at that time was scarce due to World War II. What began as a pragmatic invention, became a global phenomenon that continues to conquer palates.

Thanks to the passion of your followers, the success of the product and the support of the brand, February 5 is a day when Nutella joins its fans in a global celebrationdemonstrating that love for this chocolate and hazelnut cream has no borders.

World Nutella Day is not only an excuse to give a taste, but also an opportunity to explore new ways to enjoy it: from spreading it in toasted bread to include it in desserts more elaborate such as cakes, cookies or ice cream. Even in some parts of the world Special events and culinary competitions are organized in their honor.