This festive season the Ferrero Group has even more reason to celebrate. The globally famed, premium confectionery company celebrates 70 years of crafting fine chocolate delights for families around the world, while successfully expanding the family business into over 160 countries. This week the team of the Michele Ferrero Entrepreneurial Project in South Africa gathered to commemorate the company’s milestone in true Ferrero fashion – a delightful celebration with all employees, their families and created especially for the kids.
From a pastry shop in Alba (Italy) where it all began, Ferrero Group is now the third largest company among the global ranking in the confectionary sector. Michele Ferrero’s vision of bringing charming quality chocolates to the world has been realised and today, under his son, Giovanni, CEO, the Group looks to continue this success, with a double-digit growth. Over the past 70 years, the company’s flagship brands Ferrero Rocher, Kinder, Nutella and Tic Tac have become international household names.
With only 7 years in the local market Ferrero South Africa is keeping up with the global growth trend. The South African factory built in 2009 produces Ferrero products for South Africa as well as the entire SADC free trade region. When the doors opened in South Africa, Ferrero began with 185 team members and this year they will be celebrating the Group’s 70th anniversary together with over 500 collaborators and their 956 family members.
Although the company is fueled by its global brands for the significant growth, they accredit their achievements to what they call their “incredible power” – their people. The ‘Ferrerians’. “Building, supporting and celebrating ‘people’ has been an integral part of the company philosophy since the humble beginning”, explains the Managing Director of Ferrero in South Africa. “The main focus of the business will always be people; the passionate leadership teams, devoted employees, the thousands of beneficiaries of our corporate social projects and of course, the chocolate fans. The business is built thanks to the power of our people and all are considered part of a global Ferrero family”.
Speaking at the anniversary event, the Managing Director of Ferrero South Africa shared words of inspiration expressed by the Group CEO Giovanni Ferrero during the beginning of the commercial year, which can resonate with us all as we head into a New Year and leave a year of turmoil behind us: “Be more responsive. Be connected. Be more aware. Be powerful. Be more resilient. Be more creative. Love what you do, with great tenacity and with an ever-growing store of intellectual skills and traits.” Now isn’t that a sweet piece of advice?
Saluti to Ferrero on their 70th Birthday!
Imka Webb is a freelance digital marketing expert and the digital editor of Food & Home Entertaining magazine. www.imkawebb.com
