Email from London - Mr. Ferrero

Over the last Chinese New Year, Allan and I hosted a dinner party and one of our guests brought us a box of Ferrer Rocher chocolates. So, sometimes after dinner, Allan and I would take one each and sometimes 2 if we do not have desserts.

Sometimes last week, over our Ferrero Rocher, we were sharing about what a luxury item Ferrero Rocher was when we were growing up. Surprisingly, we could still remember our first Ferrero Rocher experience. 

I told him about Auntie Geok Hui who came to our house with a box when we were staying at Berkerly Garden in Klang and it was then the most delicious chocolate I have ever eaten. It was also expensive, Rm12.90 per box of 16, stacked up in 2 layers of eight. Then, it went up to Rm16.90 and then Rm18.90. Funny how these facts still stick in the deep recesses on one's mind.

Allan said that his family doesn't spend money on stuff like this and his first Ferrer Rocher was given to him by a fat schoolmate when they went for their sports competition in early secondary school. Allan was representing his school for long jump and his friend for shot putt. So, while waiting foe their turns, his friend took out a pack of 3 Ferrero Rocher and gave him one. It was, to him, the most delicious chocolate that he has ever eaten.

And then yesterday, while reading an old edition of the Economist, on the Obituary section, I read that Mr. Michele Merrero (I didn't know there is such a person) died on Valentine's Day, age 89.

He is the inventor of Ferrero Rocher, and also Nutella, Tic Tac and all the Kinder chocolates, like Happy Hippo.

Reading his obituary, it felt as though his story is one that comes out of a story book. Even his death on Valentine's day seemed approprate. Chocolate maker dies on Valentine's Day. 

(Click ' The Economist - Obituary' for the article).

Anyway, he spent 5 years figuring how to bend the wafer in the Ferrero Rocher. 

He started selling chocolate in small packages, even individually, instead of boxes because it was not affordable in post war Germany but he felt that everyone should have some sweetness in their life even during such bleak times. 

He even created the egg-shaped Kinder surprise (chocolate egg with a toy inside) so that children can have Easter everyday. 

He was so good  to his employees that they never went on strike. When his factory was flooded in 1994, they came back over Christmas to help him clean up so that factory could start after only 15 days. He kept his company private and took his time to grow his company however he wanted to. 

I showed Allan the article yesterday after dinner, over our Ferrero Rocher. One day when my little boy is old enough to eat Ferrero Rocher and old enough to understand, I will tell him the story of this remarkable man that hardly anyone else outside of Italy knew about.

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