175 years Lindt & Sprüngli

THE CONCHING PROCESS IS INVENTED Rodolphe Lindt, son of a pharmacist from Bern, founds the company Rod. Lindt & sons and, in the same year, invents the conching process that would produce the world’s first smooth-melting chocolate. 1879 1880 LINDT CHOCOLAT FONDANT The fine melt is born. EARLY MARKETING CAMPAIGNS The “Chocolat Sprüngli” advertising poster was inspired by the famous paint- ing “The chocolate girl” by Swiss painter Jean-Étienne Liotard. 1826 PIER PAUL CAFFAREL opens the first chocolate factory in Italy just out- side Turin. CONFECTIONERY ON MARKTGASSE When the successor of the master Councilor Hans Jakob Vogel was still unsettled, the or- phan and journeyman David Sprüngli-Schwarz took over the business in the “Zum Goldenen Ring” building on Marktgasse in Zurich for 24,000 guilders. 1836 THE DAWN OF THE CHOCOLATE ERA In the small confectionery, David Sprüngli-Schwarz and his son Rudolf Sprüngli- Ammann produce the first solid chocolate in Ger- man-speaking Switzerland. 1845 WERDMÜHLE Rudolf Sprüngli-Ammann relocates the chocolate factory from Horgen to the Werdmühle in Zurich. 1865 BIRTH OF THE GIANDUIOTTO for the carnival in Turin. DOMINGO GHIRARDELLI The Italian choco- latier Domingo Ghirardelli founds the Ghirardely & Girard confection- ery in San Fran- cisco, which later becomes the Ghirardelli Choco- late Company. 1852 The founding years 175 1870 1847 Construction of the chocolate factory at Schleifetobel in Horgen. CARL HOFBAUER founds the Hofbauer confectionery in Vienna. 1882 David Sprüngli-Schwarz around 1850. Confectionery on Marktgasse. Rodolphe Lindt around 1880. The Lindt conche, which revolution- ized the world of chocolate. 1859 Sprüngli patisserie on Paradeplatz. Advertisement for David Sprüngli & Söhne around 1860. Rudolf Sprüngli- Ammann. DIVISION OF THE SPRÜNGLI EMPIRE Rudolf Sprüngli- Ammann regulates the succession and divides the Sprüngli empire between his two sons. 1892 THE SECOND PATISSERIE OPENS The second Sprüngli patisserie opens its doors on what is now Paradeplatz, formerly known as Neu- markt. The elegant patisserie was a novelty that captured the hearts of the Zurich population right from the very start. Milestones in the history of the company years of chocolate history FURTHER EXPANSION Acquisition of existing licensing businesses and founding of subsidiaries in: 1993 Italy 1994 Austria Founding of the subsidiary in Austria and acquisition of the F. Ludwig Hof- bauer Group includ- ing Küfferle at the same time. 1994 Poland 1995 Canada 1997 Australia Establishment of own sales offices in Argentina, Denmark, and the Czech Republic. 1990s SHARE SPLIT A 1:5 split of registered shares and participation certificates is effected. 2000 ACQUISITION Acquisition of the oldest chocolate company in the US, the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company in San Francisco. 1998 Lindt&Sprüngli cele- brates its anniversary with numerous activities in Switzerland and abroad. “WE MAKE THE WORLD A SWEETER PLACE” The global retail story starts with the expan- sion of the company’s own global store net- work. 2009 ROGER FEDERER BECOMES LINDT BRAND AMBASSADOR ACQUISITION of the long-standing Caffarel company in Italy. 1997 OPENING OF THE “LINDT HOME OF CHOCOLATE” The unique Lindt Home of Chocolate project opens in the anniversary year. The chocolate museum offers multimedia and interactive exhibition worlds, a research facility and show pro- duction, the world’s largest Lindt Choco- late Shop, a Lindt Café, and a Chocolat- eria for chocolate courses. The main visitor attraction is one of the world’s largest chocolate fountains. E-COMMERCE Lindt launches its own online shop in Switzer- land. 2016 2018 LINDT COCOA CENTER IN OLTEN, SWITZERLAND The investment of CHF 30 million in the Lindt Cocoa Center in Olten is a clear commit- ment to Switzerland as a business location and serves as a basis for the future growth of the whole Group. EXPANSION IN THE WORLD’S LARGEST CHOCOLATE MARKET Significant investment of almost USD 200 million in the produc- tion facilities in Stratham in the US. THE LINDOR TRUFFLE The classic Lindor bar is re- launched as the Lindor truffle and Christmas deco- ration in Aachen. The significant success story of the global best- seller begins. 1980s EXPANSION IN EUROPE, OVERSEAS, AND ASIA Lindt&Sprüngli takes over all existing licensing businesses. It founds its own subsidiaries in: 1981 Spain 1988 Germany 1989 France With the founding of the subsidiary in France, the Group also acquired the famous “Les Pyrénéens” recipe developed in Oloron-Sainte- Marie in 1927. First steps are also made in Asia with the establishment of subsidiaries in 1986 Hong Kong 1987 USA LISTING ON THE STOCK EXCHANGE Lindt&Sprüngli is listed on the Zurich Stock Exchange. 1986 ACQUISITIONS IN SWITZERLAND In Switzerland, Lindt&Sprüngli buys Chocolat Grison AG in Chur (1961), merges with Nago Nährmittel AG in Olten in 1971, and acquires Gubor Schokoladenfabrik G. Übersax in Langenthal in the same year. 1960s to 1970s THE HEADQUARTER IN KILCHBERG ACHIEVES SALES OF OVER CHF 100 MILLION FOR THE FIRST TIME. 1957 KÜFFERLE launches the choco- late umbrellas on the Austrian market. YEAR OF BIRTH of the “Cresta” bar with a crunchy almond brittle. 1949 THE LINDOR BAR with its smooth-melting filling is created. 1964 LINDT CHOCOLETTI is launched. 1969 1979 CONNAISSEURS PRALINES are expanded into a separate brand line. Acquisitions in Switzerland Technological innovation Expansion with Europe as the focus 1970 LINDT NOCCIOR Noccior, the most impor- tant Easter icon in Italy to date, is launched on the market. 1987 CHAMPS- ELYSÉES The traditional Christmas pralines are introduced in France. 1995 1999 GHIRARDELLI SQUARES Year of birth of Ghirardelli Squares in San Francisco. 1993 NEWMANAGEMENT Ernst Tanner is elected as Chairman of the Management Board and Dele- gate of the Board of Directors in 1993. In 1994, he succeeds Rudolph R. Sprüngli as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Under his man- agement, the global expansion of the Lindt&Sprüngli Group begins. 1997 MINI PRALINES are launched. The Lindt Master Chocolatier becomes an ambassador for quality, competence, innova- tion, and passion. These are values that have defined Lindt&Sprüngli since the start of its history. 1998 LINDT MASTER CHOCOLATIERS 2002 LINDT CREATION bars are launched. 2008 LINDOR STICKS are introduced and quickly become a fa- vorite snack. 2011 THE LINDT TEDDY IS LAUNCHED. 2013 HELLO The young lifestyle brand conquers the world. 3,850 CHF 9,650 CHF 39,770 CHF 48,100 CHF 74,620 CHF ACQUISITION OF RUSSELL STOVER Lindt&Sprüngli takes over the long-standing Russell Stover company in the US. The acquisition of the three brands Rus- sell Stover, Pangburn’s, and Whitman’s is the most strategically im- portant in the history of the company. 2014 Acquisition of the licensing business 2020 SINCE 1995, LINDT&SPRÜNGLI HAS CONTINUALLY INVESTED OVER CHF 3 BILLION IN NEW TECHNOLOGY AT ALL PRODUCTION SITES AROUND THE WORLD. State-of-the-art technology 2015 THE FROG QUEEN AND KING join the Gold Bunny. 2017 SENSATION FRUIT Lindt conquers the new “snacking” market segment with “Sensation Fruit”. PIEMONTE is introduced. 2019 DEVELOPMENT OF LINDT&SPRÜNGLI REGISTERED SHARES 1952 THE GOLD BUNNY sees the light of day. IN 1991, THE GROUP OF COMPANIES’ GLOBAL SALES HIT CHF 1 BILLION FOR THE FIRST TIME. DIVA PRALINES are launched. SANTA GLAMOUR The Santa Glamour edi- tion excites consumers at Christmas. NUXOR is launched on the market. LINDT&SPRÜNGLI RECORDS SALES OF OVER CHF 4 BILLION FOR THE FIRST TIME. 150 years 175 years Roger Federer and Ernst Tanner at the press conference in 2009. Ernst Tanner and Rudolph R. Sprüngli. 1972 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LSCP TECHNOLOGY The LSCP plant is implemented. The “Lindt&Sprüngli Chocolate Process” is one of the most sig- nificant developments in the production process since the in- vention of the conche. ACQUISITION OF LINDT The Zurich-based Choc- olat Sprüngli AG takes over “Rod. Lindt & sons” and thus the secret conching process and Lindt brand for an im- pressive amount of 1.5 million gold francs. The name is changed to “Aktiengesellschaft Vereinigte Berner & Zürcher Chocoladen- fabriken Lindt&Sprüngli” at the same time. 1899 FIRST CONNECTIONS ABROAD Lindt&Sprüngli takes its first steps abroad with general agencies in Germany and the US. Following the first global economic crisis, Lindt&Sprüngli founded its own subsidiary in Berlin in as early as 1927 with a factory for licensed production. FACTORY IN KILCHBERG/ BENDLIKON In 1898 Johann Rudolf Sprüngli- Schifferli builds a new, larger chocolate factory in Kilch- berg-Bendlikon. The factory is com- pleted in 1899. CHANGE OF NAME The company name is changed to “Chocoladefa- briken Lindt&Sprüngli AG”. ECONOMY & EXPORT The second global economic crisis once again brought ex- ports to a standstill. At that time, the chocolate industry accounted for only 2% of the 1919 export volume. SUBSIDIARY A further subsidiary is founded in England. 1920s 1899 1930s 1932 ESTABLISHMENT OF THE LICENSING BUSINESS Lindt&Sprüngli ex- pands its licensing business and concludes contracts in Italy, Ger- many, and France. The 1950s are strong fi- nancial years with pos- itive sales figures. Production is no longer able to meet the demand. 1940s to 1950s The 100-year anniver- sary coincides with the end of the war and is celebrated with a 12- part advertising series. Consumption rapidly picks up again. 1.5 MILLION GOLD FRANCS WOULD BE WORTH MUCH MORE THAN CHF 100 MILLION TODAY. 1934/35 1931 1947 1952 BÂTONS KIRSCH The launch of the “Bâtons Kirsch” proves a real sales success for Lindt&Sprüngli. The Swiss original is now an integral part of the Swiss chocolate tradition. LINDT HAUCHDÜNN are launched on the market. A TURNING POINT IN THE BRAND STRATEGY The “Lindt Cream” (1934) and “Lindt Milk” (1935) chocolate bars are launched on the Swiss market. Up until 1934, the Lindt brand was only used for the classic dark chocolate made according to Rodolphe Lindt’s original recipe. 100 years RUSSELL STOVER CHOCOLATES Clara and Russell Stover found Russell Stover Chocolates in Denver in the US state of Colorado. 1923 1945 First steps abroad Establishment of the licensing business Clara and Russell Stover. * Founding of subsidiaries * 2005 Sweden * 2008 Czech Republic * 2012 Ireland, Russia, China * 2010 Japan * 2011 South Africa * 2014 Brazil * 2018 Mexico * 2020 Portugal 175 years of Lindt &Sprüngli 100 years of Lindt &Sprüngli 150 years of Lindt &Sprüngli Russell Stover gained cult status through the block- buster film “Forrest Gump”. JOINT VENTURE Lindt&Sprüngli enters into a joint venture with Kopenhagen in Brazil. As at: 02/2020 Start of the next century Expansion through acquisitions of premium brands 90,000 CHF