For more than four decades, it has been a confection synonymous with quality and luxury. Ferrero Rocher, introduced in 1979 by the Italian company Ferrero, consists of a whole roasted hazelnut wrapped in a crisp wafer filled with hazelnut cream, coated in chocolate, and sprinkled with chopped hazelnuts.

Of course, another element adding to the confection’s luxury is the gold, ridged foil in which it is presented, along with the iconic advertisement featuring “the gentleman ambassador who spoils us,” which has become historic.

The production process is secret, with smartphones and notebooks strictly prohibited inside the facilities, due to fears of espionage. Since 2015, very few journalists have been invited to visit, and the factory in Piedmont, northern Italy, produces a total of 24 million Ferrero Rocher chocolates daily.

Yet part of the confection’s grandeur comes from how its creator, Michele Ferrero, was inspired to name it: his love for the Virgin Mary.

Inspiration from Lourdes

Specifically, when the Italian chocolatier introduced Ferrero Rocher, it is said that he chose the name “Rocher” from the rocky cave of Rocher de Massabielle in Lourdes, southern France, where, according to Catholic tradition, the Virgin Mary appeared in 1858 to the nun (and Catholic saint) Bernadette Soubirous.

The French word “rocher” means “rock.” Many also note that the uneven, crunchy surface of the chocolate, full of hazelnut pieces, resembles the rocky landscape of Lourdes—a place of deep spiritual significance for Ferrero.

“We owe our success to the Virgin of Lourdes”

Michele Ferrero, a devout Catholic, never hid his devotion to the Virgin Mary. On the 50th anniversary of the company, he said: “We owe Ferrero’s success to the Virgin of Lourdes; without her, we could have done very little.”

And he had every reason to feel grateful. As the world’s third-largest chocolate producer, the Ferrero Group—with products like Nutella, Kinder, and Tic Tac—exceeded €10 billion in revenue in 2016 alone.

According to testimonies, Ferrero made an annual pilgrimage to Lourdes, often accompanied by top company executives. He also organized pilgrimages for employees, and in each of the group’s 14 production units worldwide, he placed a statue of the Virgin Mary.

Accounts of his faith

In 2023, in an interview with ACI Prensa (a Spanish partner of CNA), Father Mauricio Elias, a priest at the Lourdes sanctuary, said: “Mr. Ferrero had great devotion to the Virgin of Lourdes; he came often and was a benefactor. He was a man who always came here, had deep devotion to the Virgin, confessed, and lived a Christian life.”

Shortly before his death on February 14, 2015, at age 89, a flood caused damage to the Lourdes sanctuary. Ferrero promised a “major donation to restore the damage.” After his death, his children fulfilled this promise, contributing to the repairs. Today, the family business is run by his son, Giovanni Ferrero. The company was founded in 1946 in Alba, Italy, by his father, Pietro Ferrero.

The 18 Apparitions of the Virgin Mary in 1858 in Lourdes

On February 11, 1858, the Virgin Mary, according to Catholic tradition, appeared for the first time to a poor and sickly girl, Bernadette. Seventeen more apparitions would follow that year.

The Virgin spoke to the girl in a humble cave, which had even been used as a pig shelter. She asked Bernadette to pray for sinners and offer sacrifices on their behalf.

During one apparition, she told Bernadette to dig in the ground. Although only muddy water appeared, the Virgin instructed: “Go to the spring, drink from it, and wash there.” Bernadette obeyed. With an act of deep faith, she bathed and drank the murky water, which soon began to flow clear and pure.

This spring continues to flow to this day. A chapel was built at the site of the cave as requested. Today, thousands of pilgrims visit every year to pray where Bernadette prayed and to bathe in the spring’s cold waters.

And so, behind a small gold chocolate, there lies a story of faith connecting industrial success with one of the world’s most famous Catholic pilgrimage sites.