Nutella down the years

Pietro Ferrero, a pastry maker from Piedmont in Italy, ingeniously creates a sweet paste made from hazelnuts, sugar and just a little of the rare cocoa. He shapes it into a loaf that can be sliced and served on bread and he names it 'Giandujot' after a famous local carnival character at the time. On 14 May 1946 the Ferrero Company is officially founded.

The delicious ‘Giandujot' paste is transformed into a new product that can be easily spread on bread; it is called SuperCrema (the precursor to Nutella).

Pietro Ferrero's son, Michele, applies his innovative genius. By trial and error, he improves the recipe and creates the first-ever jar of a new hazelnut and cocoa cream which is, however, still without a name. So he puts his creative hat on again and invents the perfect solution for the world's most famous spread: Nutella.

Nutella reaches Germany and the nation immediately falls in love with the delicious spread.

The newly-designed jars, featuring the unmistakable iconic design, are also widely acclaimed, enjoying great consumer demand.

Nutella expands further into Europe and is launched in the French market, again with great success.

Having conquered Europe, Nutella launches in Australia – and the first Nutella production plant outside of Europe is opened in Lithgow near Sydney, New South Wales.

Nutella organises the mega 'Generation Nutella' event in Paris in the picturesque setting of the Carousel du Louvre. This features an exhibition of works created between 1966 and 1996 by artists and designers who found their inspiration by enjoying breakfasts of Nutella and bread. Renowned figures featured include Decouflé, Paco Rabanne and Wolinski.

On 29 May, 27,854 people gather at Gelserkirchen in Germany to participate in the largest-ever Continental breakfast, featuring Nutella of course. The blockbuster attendance ensures that the event makes it into the Guinness Book of Records.

Sara Rosso, an Italo-American blogger and Nutella lover, decides to dedicate one day a year to her favourite spread – and on 5 February 2007 Nutella lovers everywhere are called to unite. World Nutella Day has been an opportunity to celebrate – and to introduce people to the spread – ever since.

The era of the social network has arrived and the internet becomes the place to share interests and talk about passions. The global Facebook page dedicated to Nutella reaches 10 million fans, after just one year of official management by Ferrero.

To celebrate Nutella's 50th birthday, Ferrero creates nutellastories.com where Nutella lovers share 76,400 stories, happy memories and unforgettable moments in the company of the famous jar. Because this landmark occasion deserves to be celebrated in style, the company organises a global event in ten international locations from New York to Naples, Dubai to Paris. It represents such a special anniversary that Italy even issues a commemorative stamp.

Nutella always wishes ‘Good Morning' to millions of people worldwide, both from breakfast tables and from digital screens. At the start of every day Facebook brings a smile to an international community of 30 million fans: an amazing milestone.

On 31 May in Chicago, Ferrero opens its first owned and operated restaurant: the Nutella Cafe.

It’s a special place where all Nutella fans can enjoy a unique experience from the moment they step into the space, choosing from a wide variety of menu items, with all-day dishes and to-go options designed to take the taste experience to new and delicious heights. www.facebook.com/NutellaCafeChicago

It's time to spread the message, the product and the love as the first Nutella Café in an airport opens at Dubai International.

The Nutella @DXB partnership between the brand owner, the world's busiest international airport and dynamic restaurateur HWH Investments proves an immediate smash hit, leading to strong sales and countless instagramable moments for young and old alike.