Michele Ferrero was born in 1925 in Dogliani (Cuneo). He is the son of two pastry chefs. From a very young age, he collaborated in the family business. After the death of his father, the company first passed into the hands of his paternal uncle and mother and later to Michele. In the 1960s, thanks to his leadership, brands like Nutella and Kinder Chocolate became extremely famous and are synonymous with snacks for children in Italy. During the same years, the Ferrero Company opened new plants, including the most famous one in Germany, where the famous Mon Cheri is produced. Products like Ferrero Rocher, Tictac, Pocket Coffee, Kinder Brioss, or Estathe became world-renowned.
In 2005, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi awarded the entrepreneur the title of Knight Grand Cross for his civil and social commitment. In April 2011, he lost his son Pietro, who died prematurely in South Africa at the age of 48. Michele Ferrero passed away in 2015 at the age of 89.
My only concern is that the company remains solid and strong to guarantee all those who work for us a safe place.
He is famous for his undercover visits to supermarkets. Michele Ferrero, like any other customer, personally checked the conditions of the products bearing his company's name. William Salice, the historical head of Ferrero products, recounts in an interview with Corriere della Sera: "Every week we went to a supermarket. He wanted to see for himself how his products were chosen." His work ethic is also legendary. His favorite day for meetings was Sunday. Another recurring phrase that Michele often said was «vag ’n chimica» (I'm going to the labs) where he would spend the night in a white coat with his closest collaborators tasting chocolate and trying dozens of different product variations.
Global Ranking