Co-Inventor of Nutella, Francesco Rivella (97), Passes Away
Science
February 18, 2025 08:51
italy - Francesco Rivella, the Italian chemist known for co-inventing Nutella, has passed away on Valentine's Day at the age of 97.
Francesco Rivella: A Legacy of Innovation
Francesco Rivella, the renowned Italian chemist, who is famously known as the co-inventor of Nutella, breathed his last on Valentine's Day at the age of 97, as reported by Jam Press.
In 1952, at the age of 25, Rivella embarked on his career journey at Ferrero, the Italian chocolate and confectionery company, right after graduating with a degree in chemistry. He joined the 'chemistry room' at Ferrero, where some of the brand's most iconic creations took form. Rivella was part of the team responsible for researching raw materials to develop new products, a process involving blending, refining, and taste-testing to achieve the perfect flavor.
Rivella advanced to the position of senior manager at Ferrero and served as the right-hand man of Michele Ferrero, who had taken over the business founded by his father Pietro in 1946.
The initial version of what would later become Nutella was originally named 'Giandujot,' inspired by 'gianduja,' a confection made of chocolate and hazelnuts, introduced in 1946. Nutella's journey began with a sweet paste that evolved into a spreadable product, known as 'SuperCrema,' in 1951.
It took over a decade for Rivella to refine the recipe, leading to the creation of the very first jar of hazelnut-cocoa cream in 1964. Nutella, as stated on the brand's website, consists of seven ingredients: sugar, palm oil, hazelnuts, milk, cocoa, lecithin, and vanillin. Rivella earned the title 'the father of Nutella' for his contributions. As the technical director at Ferrero, Rivella also played a pivotal role in the inception of Mon Chéri and Kinder chocolates.
Post-retirement, Rivella turned his focus to fruit cultivation and the Italian sport of 'pallapugno.' His passing on Valentine's Day marked a decade since Michele Ferrero's demise. Rivella is survived by a daughter and three sons.
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