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Ferrero Rocher appeared on the market in 1979 as a new product of the Italian company Ferrero. The chocolate contains a whole roasted hazelnut, placed in the center of a crispy layer of neapolitan filled with hazelnut cream, covered with chocolate and hazelnut pieces. The manufacturer packaged it in gold-colored aluminum foil and placed it in a folded paper wrapper, elements that identify the product in the market.
The company keeps its production process closed. Personal electronic devices are not allowed in the factory premises. Since 2015, production at the Piedmont plant in northern Italy has reached about 24 million units per day. Media visits to these facilities remain limited.
Behind the name of the product lies a religious reference. Michele Ferrero, who led the family company for decades, chose the name “Rocher” in reference to the Rocher de Massabielle rock in Lourdes, France. According to Catholic tradition, this is where the Virgin Mary appeared to Bernadette Soubirous in 1858. The word “rocher” in French means rock. The outer shape of the chocolate with hazelnut pieces creates an uneven surface that is symbolically linked to this reference.
Ferrero has publicly expressed his religious beliefs. On the 50th anniversary of the company's founding, he stated that he attributed the success of his business to Our Lady of Lourdes. According to financial data, the Ferrero group exceeded 10 billion euros in revenue in 2016. The company ranks among the largest chocolate producers in the world and owns brands such as Nutella, Kinder and Tic Tac.
The company's founder, Pietro Ferrero, set up the business in 1946 in Alba, Italy. His son Michele Ferrero then took over. After his death on February 14, 2015, Giovanni Ferrero took over the leadership of the group.
According to the testimonies of people connected with the Lourdes shrine, Michele Ferrero frequently visited the pilgrimage site and financially supported the activities there. He placed a statue of the Virgin Mary in each of the group's production units. He also organized pilgrimage visits for company employees.
Shortly before his death, a flood damaged the shrine of Lourdes. Ferrero pledged financial support for its restoration. After his death, his family made a contribution to the repairs.
The events surrounding Lourdes date back to 1858. On February 11 of that year, according to Catholic belief, the Virgin Mary first appeared to Bernadette Soubirous, a 14-year-old girl. During that year, 17 other apparitions were recorded. In one of them, the girl dug in the ground at the request of the figure she claimed to have seen. Initially the water was murky, but later it turned into a clear spring. A shrine was built at the site of the event, which is now visited by pilgrims from various countries.
The name Ferrero Rocher is thus linked to a direct reference to this place of pilgrimage. The history of the product is intertwined with the personal beliefs of the leader who developed the company into a group with global reach.
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