Caffarel celebrates 200 years since its foundation: since 1826, the history of Piedmontese chocolate

Caffarel celebrates 200 years since its foundation, a milestone that confirms it as one of Europe's most historic chocolate factories.

Founded in Turin in 1826, over two centuries Caffarel has linked its name to the history of Piedmontese chocolate and has brought its culture well beyond national borders, establishing itself as an ambassador for Piedmontese and Italian quality around the world.

Origins

The company's origins date back to the initiative of Pierre Paul Caffarel, who, together with his son, acquired a factory in Turin and transformed it into one of the first chocolate-processing workshops in Italy. From its foundation, Caffarel has combined traditional chocolate craftsmanship with production innovation, an element that has accompanied the brand throughout its history. A distinctive feature of its production has been the meeting of cocoa with the finest products of the region, beginning with the Tonda Gentile delle Langhe hazelnut. From this meeting came the tradition of gianduia, the combination of cocoa and hazelnuts that helped define the identity of Piedmontese chocolate and from which, in 1865, the Gianduiotto was created.

The Gianduiotto

Considered the first individually wrapped chocolate in history, the Gianduiotto soon became Caffarel's signature product. With its distinctive shape and traditional golden wrapper, it is now one of the most recognisable chocolates in the Italian tradition. More than 160 years after its creation, Caffarel still makes it using the traditional extrusion method, with gianduia paste poured onto a slab, using machinery installed in the 1960s that is still in operation today.

This production tradition continues at the Luserna San Giovanni factory, where the traditional processing method is combined with the exclusive use of Nocciole Piemonte Igp for Caffarel's Gianduiotto, maintaining the product's strong connection with its area of origin. A heritage of expertise and tradition whose value has also been recognised institutionally: the trademark registered by Caffarel in 1972 “Gianduia 1865. The authentic Gianduiotto of Turin” has been recognised since 2022 as a Historic Trademark of National Interest by the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy.

Joining a new Group

Alongside product quality, since the nineteenth century Caffarel has cultivated an approach to communication that was uncommon at the time. Packaging, advertisements, postcards and shop windows made the brand known well beyond the borders of Turin. In 1997, the company became part of the Lindt & Sprüngli Group, joining its history to that of another great chocolate tradition. Since then, the Group has supported its development with ongoing investment, preserving its production methods, identity and connection with Piedmont.

The comment

“Caffarel's 200 years of history also tell the story of a deep connection with Piedmont, the ability to innovate and a mastery passed down over time. From an insight that originated in Turin in 1826, a way of interpreting chocolate took shape that has brought Piedmontese quality and know-how to consumers throughout the world,” says Giulia Muzzin Scevola, marketing director of Lindt & Sprüngli Italia. “For us, the bicentenary is not a finishing point, but the foundation from which to continue creating, investing and innovating, keeping the dialogue between tradition and contemporaneity alive. We want to grow while remaining faithful to this identity, continuing to generate value for our region and strengthening Caffarel's presence in Italy and international markets.”

The home of Caffarel

This story continues today in Luserna San Giovanni, in the province of Turin, where Caffarel's production is based. Over the past five years, the factory has seen its production volumes double, growth supported by investment from the Group and, in particular, by the new hazelnut-roasting centre, built in 2024 and recently expanded with a second area. Created primarily to support Gianduiotto production, the facility is now a global centre of excellence for hazelnut processing within the Group.

The factory is now one of the most important production sites for the Lindt & Sprüngli Group, with a strong international focus. From Val Pellice, Caffarel chocolate reaches consumers all over the world. Indeed, 70% of the volumes produced in Luserna San Giovanni are destined for international markets, and Caffarel-branded products are now available in 49 countries, bringing the tradition of Piedmontese chocolate to international markets.

And in the year of its bicentenary, the Luserna San Giovanni factory is preparing for a new chapter. The Lindt & Sprüngli Group has chosen Luserna San Giovanni as the global production centre for Lindt Choco Wafer: the new line will be operational from 2027 with a further increase in the site's annual production capacity and the number of people working there. This choice confirms that the vocation for innovation which has accompanied Caffarel since 1826 continues to guide its development today.

This article was translated from the original Italian version with the assistance of artificial intelligence. In case of discrepancies, please refer to the original Italian version.