Ferrero SpA

Ferrero SpA ( fə-RAIR-oh, Italian: [ferˈrɛːro]), more commonly known as Ferrero Group or simply Ferrero, is an Italian multinational company with headquarters in Alba, Piedmont. Ferrero is a manufacturer of branded chocolate and confectionery products, and is reportedly the second largest chocolate producer and confectionery company in the world. Ferrero SpA is a private company owned by the Ferrero family and it has been described as "one of the world's most secretive firms". It was founded in 1946 in Alba by Pietro Ferrero, a confectioner and small-time pastry maker who laid the groundwork for the introduction of Nutella. The company had a period of tremendous growth and success under Pietro's son Michele Ferrero, who in turn handed over the daily operations to his sons, Pietro Jr. and Giovanni Ferrero (the founder's grandsons). In 2015, following Pietro Jr.'s sudden death in 2011, Giovanni Ferrero became the company's sole leader as executive chairman and majority owner. As of 2025, the Ferrero Group reportedly includes 36 manufacturing plants, and approximately 48,697 employees worldwide. Also as of 2025, it reportedly produces 1.5 million tons of food annually.