Tag: italy

  • Nutella: 60 Years of Smile | History of Nutella

    Chocolates are something that we all love. After chocolates, there is another thing that makes us drool. This is our very own Nutella.

    Nutella gives a tough competition to people’s love towards chocolates. Whether you want a spread for your bread or something sweet to eat, Nutella is probably the first name to pop up in the head.

    Nutella is a part of chocolate lovers’ favourite company Ferrero. The spread is a specialized mix of hazelnut and chocolate. This simple yet unique combination makes the spread the ultimate love of everyone.

    Nutella has been with us for many decades now. Indeed, it is a tried, tested, and lovable brand.

    Origin og Nutella – Back to World War II
    The Birth of Nutella
    The Global Expansion of Nutella
    The Supply Expansion Problem and Solution of Nutella
    The Popularity of Nutella
    Keeping up With Marketing Trends
    Nutella Timeline

    Origin of Nutella – Back to World War II

    The history of Nutella is quite older than we could think of. Its history can be traced back to the time of World War II. During that time, markets faced a shortage of cocoa.

    In Italy, in the year 1946, there was a chef named Pietro Ferrero. He noticed this shortage and decided to do something about it. So, he created a paste mixed with loads of hazelnuts and some chocolate. He then made blocks of this paste and started selling.

    These blocks were first cut into slices and then used between slices of bread. The mothers would make sandwiches with these chocolate slices. The children began to love the chocolate flavour. This made these blocks quite popular among the locals.

    Pietro then had an idea to make these blocks creamier in texture. A creamier texture would help it to spread easily on the bread. He spent days making certain changes to make it creamier like a spread. The resulting product made was then called ‘Supercrema Gianduja’.

    The Birth of Nutella

    Michele Ferrero - Founder of Nutella
    Michele Ferrero – Founder of Nutella

    In the year 1964, Pietro’s son, Michele tried to modify his father’s recipe. He wanted to make certain improvements to ensure the finest quality of the spread.

    This was the first time that a jar mixed with rich cocoa and hazelnuts got made. Pietro’s son gave a lot of thought and decided to name it ‘Nutella’.

    The names came into existence by combining two words. The first ‘nut’ from ‘hazelnut’ and ‘Ella’, a suffix of positivity. The letter ‘N’ in the logo is in black and the rest of the letters are in the colour red. Ferrero had to keep the letter N in black due to trademark issues. There was another brand that used the name Nutella. So, to keep it different, he changed the colour of the letter ‘N’.

    This was the year (1964) when our beloved Nutella came into existence. Since then, this sweet and savoury jar of spread has become a go-to choice for breakfast.

    The Global Expansion of Nutella

    Global Expansion of Nutella
    Global Expansion of Nutella

    In the following years, Nutella began its journey on becoming a global brand. In 1965, one year later of its launch, it took over the German market. Then it started its expansion over other markets.

    In 1967, Nutella made its Italian television debut. It appeared on a television program, Carosello. This first advertising campaign by Nutella took over the hearts of Italy.

    After Italy, Nutella became super popular in France and Germany. The children from various countries began to cherish this delicious spread. This encouraged Nutella to expand itself in more countries.

    The brand has used strategic planning for its expansion. It conducts deep research before entering any new market. It considers various factors. These include checking competitors, market space, availability of raw materials, etc.

    Nutella was quite sceptical about entering the markets of Britain. The people’s interest there was too invested in another spread named Marmite. But as it’s said, interests can change. Nutella was never a quitter. It created special campaigns, which were specific to the country. At last, it came in Britain’s markets and hereafter outdo Marmite.

    The Supply Expansion Problem and Solution of Nutella

    As the brand began to become global, the supply of jars increased. Nutella has various plants around the world for its production. There are plants in Canada, Australia, Italy, France, Germany, Russia, and more. The first Nutella plant was established in 1978, in Lithgow, near Sydney. But with increased production, there arose a problem. It was the shortage of supply.

    Ferrero uses hazelnuts in large amounts. It was quite predictable that they would not be able to buy anymore as there would not be enough of it. So, the company came up with a patient yet a fruitful idea. It was to plant their trees.

    In the 1990’s the process of planting trees began. 6.6 million trees have been planted and more plantations are in their plan. These plantations helped the company get rid of its major future problem. This also created trust among the customers as it ensured the greatest purity.

    The Popularity of Nutella

    Nutella’s amazing taste and great advertising over time made it popular. It became so popular that there is now a World Nutella Day. It came into existence on 5th February 2007. It’s celebrated every year since then.

    The greatest strategy that contributed towards the company’s success is keeping up with the time. Since the earlier times, Nutella has always come up with relatable and trendy advertisements.

    Nutella company has always shown happy families enjoying their jar together. This helped it become a family-friendly product. Such ads made people consider Nutella as a jar full of joy.

    The company likes to keep up with the new generation’s customers. It was one of the first corporate to plunge into the sea of social media. People liked to share their experiences with Nutella. They were sharing recipes, tweeting, and making videos around it.

    In 2014, there were 17 million tweets that contained the term Nutella. People even made YouTube channels about Nutella.

    Nutella’s jump into social media proved to be successful for the company. They now create online campaigns to attract more consumers.

    In 2014, Nutella company celebrated its 50th anniversary with a global campaign. It was ’50 Years Full of Stories’. In this campaign, Nutella asked its huge fan base to share their experiences or stories with Nutella. By sharing images, texts, or videos, the fans would get a chance to win prizes.

    This campaign was a shift from the company’s earlier advertisements. Earlier the company focused on educational and regional specific ads for promotions. However, with the changing times, Nutella’s strategies have also changed and are keeping up with the trends.

    In 2024 Nutella launched its new campaign, Always Better Together. The “Always Better Together” Nutella campaign highlights the idea that Nutella enhances every moment, making them even better. The campaign emphasizes that Nutella can make mornings brighter, bring loved ones together, and inspire families to create joyful memories.

    Nutella Timeline

    • 1946: Pietro Ferrero creates “Giandujot”, a sweet hazelnut and cocoa paste shaped like a loaf, named after a local carnival character.
    • 1951: The recipe evolves into a creamy spread called “SuperCrema.”
    • 1964: Michele Ferrero, Pietro’s son, refines the recipe and launches it as “Nutella.”
    • 1965: Nutella gains popularity across Europe, starting in Germany.
    • 1966: Nutella was launched in France.
    • 1978: Nutella expands globally with the first production plant outside Europe, in Australia.
    • 1996: 30 years of optimism in France
    • 2005: On May 29, in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, 27,854 people set a Guinness World Record for the “Largest Continental Breakfast Ever” featuring Nutella.
    • 2007: World Nutella Day is established by fans to celebrate the spread.
    • 2011: Nutella’s global Facebook page gained 10 million fans within just one year.
    • 2012: Nutella & GO! with Breadsticks launched in the USA
    • 2014: Nutella marks its 50th anniversary, with events and campaigns worldwide.
    • 2015: Nutella reached 30 million fans on Facebook
    • 2017: On May 31, Nutella opened its first restaurant in Chicago, offering fans a unique experience with a wide menu of delicious Nutella recipes.
    • 2020: The Nutella Muffin were first launched in Italy, it’s now available in Europe and the Gulf.
    • 2023: Since its launch, the Nutella croissant has delighted European consumers with its flaky pastry and delicious Nutella filling.
    • 2024: 60 years of smile!

    Conclusion

    Nutella, the delicious mix of chocolate and hazelnuts is now a global product. It is not only the good taste but also the company’s great strategies over the years that have made this brand so huge.

    Nutella is no more just a jar; it is like an emotion now. It is like a cure for loneliness and sorrows for children and teens. Thus, Nutella has created a huge place in people’s hearts. Now, it is like an absolute leader in the market making every other competitor look inferior to it.

    According to the Guinness book of world records, Nutella has also won the title of ‘Largest Continental Breakfast’, where 27,854 people were gathered to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Nutella.

    FAQs

    Why is Nutella banned?

    Nutella has been pulled off from Italian supermarkets over the claims that its ingredients may cause cancer.

    Who is the biggest consumer of Nutella?

    France is the biggest consumer of Nutella, the factory in Nutella makes 100,000 tons of chocolate spread.

    Why is the N in Nutella black?

    The letter ‘N’ is in black because there was already a company named Nutella, so Ferrero had to keep the letter N in black due to trademark issues.

    What is Nutella logo meaning?

    The Nutella logo, with “Nut” in black for trust and “ella” in red for joy, symbolizes reliability, energy, and universal appeal in a simple, modern design.

    What is Nutella origin?

    Nutella originated in Piedmont, Italy, in 1964. It was created by Michele Ferrero, who refined an earlier hazelnut paste called SuperCrema. The spread was initially made to be more affordable, using local hazelnuts, which were abundant in the Piedmont region, combined with cocoa. Nutella quickly gained popularity and became a global favorite.

    When and where was Nutella invented?

    Nutella was invented in a town named Alba in Italy in 1964.

    Where does Nutella come from?

    Nutella is made by first roasting hazelnuts and grinding them into a smooth paste. This paste is then mixed with sugar, cocoa, milk powder, and palm oil to create a creamy texture. The ingredients are blended together until smooth and consistent. Finally, the spread is packaged and sealed for distribution, ensuring the perfect balance of flavor and creaminess that Nutella fans love.

  • Why Google was hit with $123 million Antitrust fine in Italy

    Google has been fined by the watchdog of Italy in regards to abusing its dominant position in the market. Google already has a dominant position in the market through the Android smartphone platform. The tech company has been facing a lot of antitrust decisions in the recent years from the European Union. Let’s look at why the tech company has been fined by Italy’s watchdog.

    Details of the Fine
    Reason for the Fine
    The Competetion
    The ACGM
    Google’s Response
    FAQ

    Details of the Fine

    Google has been fined by the watchdog of Italy which is estimated to be around USD 123 million for abusing its dominant position in the market. The case is related to the modified version of Google’s OS which is used in cars known as Android Auto.

    The case is specifically concentrated on restrictions made by Google on their platform towards an electric car charging app called juice pass which is made by an energy company called Enel X Italia.

    Reason for the Fine

    Android Auto is a feature offered by Google for the drivers and motorists to access the maps and music streaming device while the vehicle is on the run through a dash mounted device. But Enel X Italia is a third-party app that was denied access to provide its features on Android Auto.

    Enel X Italia’s mobile app is available through the smartphone version of the android platform but the users can’t use it or are supposed to use their phone while driving. So, the restriction of access of the app on the Android Auto is equal to cutting down their competition.


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    The Competetion

    The authorities have conveyed that the Google Maps app which provides basic services for the Electric vehicles such as finding and getting directions to charging points is available through Android Auto.

    According to the findings of certain authorities, Google did not allow Enel X Italia to develop a version of the JuicePass app which would be compatible with the Android Auto OS.  

    The JuicePass app had features that would be compatible with the motorists with safety. The app would let the motorists to find an electric vehicle station, providing directions and even reserving a place at the station.

    By restricting the availability of the app on the Android Auto the authorities claim that the company has favored its Google Maps which currently provides the features of finding and locating charging stations and in the future can provide the features such as reserving a place and payment.

    The ACGM

    The AGCM has conveyed that Google had violated the Article 102 of the treaty on the functioning of the European Union and has given an order to make the mobile application of JuicePass available on the Android Auto platform.

    They also added that Google will have to provide the same access towards the Android Auto to other third-party app developers. AGCM has conveyed that it has concerns about whether Google’s restrictions on apps would have an impact on the electric mobility market.

    They added that if this was going to continue then it would permanently impact the future of JuicePass and reduce their user base when the electric mobility market is developing in the country. This would reduce the choice for the consumers and also act as a barrier to innovation.


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    Google’s Response

    Google has denied the accusation and has conveyed that they haven’t done anything wrong. At the same time, the company hasn’t confirmed whether they were planning to appeal. The tech giant has confirmed that the restrictions that they place on the applications are necessary to maintain the safety of the drivers.

    They conveyed that they have been opening up the platform to more apps over time with thousands of them being more compatible. They have conveyed that they intend to expand its availability.

    Google has said in a statement that they have strict guidelines on the types of apps which are currently supported and these apps are based on certain industry standards and driver distraction tests. They said that they disagree with the decision of the authority and are planning to review their options.

    FAQ

    What is meant by antitrust?

    Antitrust laws are regulations that encourage competition by limiting the market power of any particular firm.

    What are the 3 antitrust laws?

    The three major antitrust laws in the U.S. are: the Sherman Act, the Clayton Act, and the Federal Trade Commission Act (FTCA).

    What is ACGM in Italy?

    The Italian Competition Authority or AGCM is the Competition regulator in Italy.

    Conclusion

    The AGCM has said that it would monitor the compliance of Google so that it ensures to order it effectively and implements the obligations correctly to provide access to third party apps through Android Auto.