Christopher Brunsdon Posted April 18, 2011 Posted April 18, 2011 http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Chocolate-tycoon-died-in-bicycle-accident-20110418 Milan - Italian chocolate tycoon Pietro Ferrero, joint chief executive of the group that owns Nutella and Ferrero Rocher, has died in a biking accident in South Africa, a company spokesperson said Monday. Ferrero, who was 47, fell from his bicycle during a regular riding session, probably because he was taken ill, while on a business trip in South Africa, the spokesPerson told AFP, voicing the group's "deep dismay". No indication was given as to where the accident occurred. Ferrero had co-run the sweets company with his younger brother Giovanni since 1997. Their 85-year-old father Michele, who turned the firm into a global leader of the confectionery industry after taking over in 1957, is still the chairperson. Michele Ferrero, 85, is Italy's richest man according to the latest ranking by Forbes magazine, ahead of eyewear tycoon Leonardo Del Vecchio and Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, a billionaire television mogul turned politician. "Italy has lost a businessman who represented the best qualities of our economic history," Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said in a statement. Frattini said Pietro Ferrero "brought an exceptionally important contribution to the Made in Italy brand around the world". For her part, the president of the Italian employers federation Confindustria, Emma Marcegaglia, expressed her "deep sadness over the tragic and sudden death," describing Ferrero as "an entrepreneur of quality and one of the greatest representatives of Italian capitalism." Secret recipe The Ferrero story began in the 1940s in Italy's northern Piedmont region. A local pastry chef also called Pietro Ferrero began the business with a secret recipe that used nuts to cut down on the more expensive cocoa in a spread that was to be called Nutella and quickly became wildly popular. The company also owns the Ferrero Rocher, Kinder and Tic-Tac brands. It had a turnover of EUR6.6bn in its 2009-2010 financial year - 4.3% higher than the previous year. It has 18 plants around the world and employs more than 21 000 people. The publicity-shy firm is entirely family-owned and has stayed away from big corporate takeovers or public listings. Last year, it did however signal interest in bidding for Britain's Cadbury, which was eventually taken over by Kraft Foods. - SAPA
timM Posted April 18, 2011 Posted April 18, 2011 RIP - He shared two passions of mine - riding and good chocolate. Very sad at just 47.
Icycling Posted April 18, 2011 Posted April 18, 2011 RIP I heard their was an accident on Suikerbossie going toward Camps bay at about 16h30 today - a cyclist was apparently covered - anyone know if this is the same accident?
Willehond Posted April 18, 2011 Posted April 18, 2011 "The company's press office at headquarters in Alba, northwestern Italy, said Ferrero, a cycling enthusiast, was riding a bike on his usual training run on a road in Capetown when he fell off. It said it wasn't clear what prompted the fall.With him on the business trip was his father, Michele Ferrero, who turned the company into an international sweets producer and invented successes including Nutella and Kinder in the 1960s and helped make the Ferreros a billionaire family that is now Italy's richest." http://www.ajc.com/business/ceo-of-sweets-maker-914621.html
HowellingWulf Posted April 19, 2011 Posted April 19, 2011 RIP - He shared two passions of mine - riding and good chocolate. Very sad at just 47. +1. So sad. RIP fellow cyclist.
Tumbleweed Posted April 19, 2011 Posted April 19, 2011 They say it could have been a heart attack. It does seem that way. Big up to the passer-by who stopped to attempt CPR until the medics arrived, and to the motorists who blocked off the road with their cars.
RodTi Posted April 19, 2011 Posted April 19, 2011 Condolences to the family... A (albeit) very small sliver of comfort must surely be that at least it haapened whilst doing what he loved? The (sadly) cynical side of me had a thought that the RAF people are no doubt very relieved (assuming the heart-attack theory to be correct) that this would not give rise to (another) multi-million Euro claim against the fund....
LeTurbo Posted April 19, 2011 Posted April 19, 2011 Todays Cape Times says, yes, it was a heart attack. That's scary at 47 ... which happens to be my age too. Poor oke. But I'm with RodTi; for me it's better to go quickly,doing something you love, in a beautiful part of the world. RIP, Pietro.
Tumbleweed Posted April 19, 2011 Posted April 19, 2011 Condolences to the family... A (albeit) very small sliver of comfort must surely be that at least it haapened whilst doing what he loved? The (sadly) cynical side of me had a thought that the RAF people are no doubt very relieved (assuming the heart-attack theory to be correct) that this would not give rise to (another) multi-million Euro claim against the fund.... The RAF. Pfffffffffffft. They just won't pay. Well they can't… Insolvent
RodTi Posted April 19, 2011 Posted April 19, 2011 The RAF. Pfffffffffffft. They just won't pay. Well they can't… Insolvent Expect a bail-out soon...
Tumbleweed Posted April 19, 2011 Posted April 19, 2011 (edited) Expect a bail-out soon... I hope so. I am due a payout. [Pfffttt... You're too dodgy for a pay-out! But ja - that blows. And unfortunately, must say - I wouldn't be holding my breath, particularly since Attorneys are no doubt going to be very reluctant to take matters further in light of the above... ] Edited April 19, 2011 by RodTi
Ratty Posted April 19, 2011 Posted April 19, 2011 One of my colleagues had a heart attack and died just over a week ago after playing a hockey game, he was only 37 and kept himself fit. You think these things only happen to people when they get older. Really sad to hear, must be tragic for the family.
urbanroyal Posted April 19, 2011 Posted April 19, 2011 (edited) First the tile guy ..now the chocalate guy...if I was Italian....I'd stay out of S A......scary. RIP fellow rider.... Edited April 19, 2011 by urbanroyal
AndreZA Posted April 19, 2011 Posted April 19, 2011 The reason why I stopped exercising is because you only have a certain amount of heart beats in a life time. The more active, the faster you use them up. Why do you think the people that have a layed back life on the platteland live so long.
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