Owner of Nutella dies at 89

Ferrero passed away on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2015, at his home in Monte Carlo after battling a long illness.

  Nutella owner, Michele Ferrero died on February 14, 2015 at the age of 89.
(Deccan Chronicle)

Michele Ferrero, the owner of the Nutella brand has died at the age of 89.

Ferrero passed away on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2015, at his home in Monte Carlo after battling a long illness.

The 89-year-old was the richest man in Italy, worth $23.4bn (£15.2bn), and stood at the helm of the world’s fourth largest confectionery company which produced the much-loved chocolate and hazelnut spread as well as Ferrero Rocher pralines, Kinder eggs and Tic Tac sweets.

Fans of the product have thanked the late mogul via social media for "sweetening up" their lives.

Italy’s president, Sergio Mattarella has also responded to Ferrero’s death saying that he was “always ahead of his time thanks to innovative products and his tenacious and reserved work”.

He is survived by his wife, Maria Franca and two sons, Pietro Ferrero Jr and Giovanni Ferrero.