The Birth of the Chocolate Industry
In the nineteenth century, the century of the industrial era and the rise of new techniques, the chocolate industry was born. Previously artisanal, the first mechanical chocolate factories appeared…
In the nineteenth century, the century of the industrial era and the rise of new techniques, the chocolate industry was born. Previously artisanal, the first mechanical chocolate factories gradually appeared throughout Europe.
1728: In Bistrol, Fry becomes the first chocolate factory with a hydraulic machine.
1770: Foundation of the first industrial company: Compagnie des Chocolats et des Thés Pelletier & Cie, which became SCHALL in 1871.
1780: Establishment of the very first chocolate factory in Bayonne.
1796: In Bologna, Majani is the oldest chocolate shop.
1811: Frenchman POINCELET develops a cocoa bean mixer.
1815: The Dutchman VAN HOUTEN founds the first chocolate factory, followed shortly by Swissmen Cailler (1819), SUCHARD (1824) then KOHLER in Lausanne, then LINDT and TOBLER.
1819: The Swissman Cailler makes the first chocolate stick.
1820: By this time, chocolate had undergone considerable development in less than half a century.
1821: The Britishman CADBURY starts to make his own chocolate. He invents dark chocolate cheesecake, chocolate cookies for tea, and then chocolate with fruits and nuts.
1822: The first cocoa plantations are planted in Africa.
1824: Antoine Menier installs the first industrial chocolate factory in the world in Noisiel sur Marne .
1826: Philippe SUCHARD installs several machines to grind cocoa in Serrières, near Neuchâtel.
1828: Conrad J. VAN HOUTEN registers his chocolate powder patent.
1830: Kohler develops hazelnut chocolate.
1842: Charles BARRY develops trading activity in London, a cocoa processing factory will be born in Meulan at the beginning of 20th century.
1847: Marketing of chocolate tablets.
1848: Auguste POULAIN founds a chocolate confectionery in the suburbs of Blois.
1856: Jacques KLAUS creates the first chocolate factory “KLAUS” in Locle (Switzerland).
1862: Creation of the ROWNTREE chocolate factory in England.
1868: Creation of the first TOBLER chocolate factory in Switzerland.
1869: The Menier chocolate factory produces 3,850 tons of chocolate.
At the same time, in other European countries, the chocolate industry progressed, mainly in Switzerland and Holland.
1870: The production technique for milk chocolate is developed by Swissman Jean Tobler.
1875: Swissman Daniel PETER uses the milk condensation process created by NESTLE.
1879: Rodolphe LINDT founds his chocolate factory in Berne, he develops conching and melting chocolate.
1883: Creation of the first COTE D’OR chocolate factory in Belgium.
1901: Suchard launches Milka milk chocolate.
1908: Swissman TOBLER creates Toblerone.
1911: Franck Mars gives his name to his chocolate bar.
1912: In Belgium, NEUHAUS develops the first filled chocolate: the praline.
1921: KWATTA launches the 30 and 45g bar.
1923: MARS, a Chicago chocolatier launches the Milky Way Bar.
1925: Callebaut offers liquid couverture chocolate.
1930: NUTS, Holland, launches a bar with hazelnuts and malt.
1932: Mars’ arrival in Europe.
Since the mid-19th century, the chocolate industry has been growing worldwide.
Today, we still find the pioneers who gave the chocolate industry its economic scale and its acclaim among leading chocolate manufacturers.
