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, on the age of 97.
He was born in Barbaresco, in Piedmont, Northern Italy and earned a level in bromatological chemistry in Turin.
In 1952, on the age of 25, he began working within the chemistry room of Ferrero in nearby Alba, where a few of the brand’s most iconic products were born, including Kinder, Ferrero Rocher and naturally Nutella.
Francesco, who has been credited with creating the latter, was a part of a team that studied raw materials, mixing, refining and tasting them to develop recent products.
He became a senior manager in the corporate 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 purchase sweets, ‘not to repeat them, but to make them higher’.
Francesco was a friend of the Italian-Jewish author, 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 normal ball game pallapugno.
Francesco as a widower and left behind three sons, a daughter, and 7 grandchildren.
His funeral was held today in Alba, where he lived, and he will probably be laid to rest in Barbaresco.
Francesco’s death comes just days before the tenth anniversary of Michele’s passing.
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