Man behind world famous chocolate spread Nutella dies on Valentine’s day

An Italian chemist dubbed the ‘father of Nutella’ for helping to create the hugely popular chocolate and hazelnut spread has died.

Francesco Rivella passed away on Friday, Valentine’s Day, at the age of 97.

He was born in Barbaresco, in Piedmont, Northern Italy and earned a degree in bromatological chemistry in Turin.

In 1952, at the age of 25, he began working in the chemistry room of Ferrero in nearby Alba, where some of the brand’s most iconic products were born, including Kinder, Ferrero Rocher and of course Nutella.

Francesco, who has been credited with creating the latter, was part of a team that studied raw materials, blending, refining and tasting them to develop new products.

He became a senior manager in the company and founder Michele Ferrero’s right-hand man

Journalist Gigi Padovani wrote in his book ‘Mondo Nutella’ (Nutella World) that the pair travelled the world to buy sweets, ‘not to copy them, but to make them better’.

Francesco was a friend of the Italian-Jewish writer, chemist, and Holocaust survivor Primo Levi.

He also served as president of the Order of Chemists of Piedmont.

After retiring, he lived in Alba, where he dedicated himself to fruit farming and the traditional ball game pallapugno.

Francesco as a widower and left behind three sons, a daughter, and seven grandchildren.

His funeral was held today in Alba, where he lived, and he will be laid to rest in Barbaresco.

Francesco’s death comes just days before the tenth anniversary of Michele’s passing.

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