Lindt facts for kids
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Headquarters and factory in Kilchberg
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| Public (Aktiengesellschaft) | |
| Traded as | |
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| Industry | Confectionery |
| Founded | 1845 |
| Founders |
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| Headquarters |
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Switzerland
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Key people
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Ernst Tanner (Executive Chairman) Adalbert Lechner (CEO) |
| Products |
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| Revenue |  CHF 4.97 billion (2022) |
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Operating income
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CHF 745 million (2022) |
| CHF 570 million (2022) |
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| Total assets |  CHF 7.95 billion (2022) |
| Total equity | CHF 4.40 billion (2022) |
| Owner | Lindt & Sprüngli AG Fonds für Pensionsergänzungen (15.43%) Ernst Tanner (2.277%) Rudolf Konrad Sprüngli (0.8091%) |
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Number of employees
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14,466 (2022) |
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Lindt is a famous Swiss company that makes delicious chocolate. It was started in 1845 and is known for its yummy chocolate truffles and chocolate bars. The company is based in Kilchberg, Switzerland. This is where its main factory and a cool museum are located. Lindt is one of the biggest chocolate makers in Switzerland.
Contents
History of Lindt Chocolate
How Lindt & Sprüngli Started
The story of Lindt began in 1836. A man named David Sprüngli and his son Rudolf Sprüngli-Ammann bought a small candy shop in Zürich, Switzerland. They started making chocolates there under the name David Sprüngli & Son. In 1838, they opened a small factory to make solid chocolate.
In 1892, Rudolf Sprüngli-Ammann retired. He split his business into two parts for his sons. His younger son, David Robert, got the candy stores, which became known as Confiserie Sprüngli. His older son, Johann Rudolf, received the chocolate factory.
To grow the chocolate factory, Johann Rudolf turned it into a company called "Chocolat Sprüngli AG" in 1899. In the same year, he bought another chocolate factory in Bern. This factory belonged to Rodolphe Lindt. After this, the company changed its name to "Aktiengesellschaft Vereinigte Berner und Zürcher Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli." This long name means "United Bern and Zurich Lindt and Sprungli Chocolate Factory Ltd."
In 1934, Lindt started making milk chocolate. Before that, they only made dark chocolate.
Growing Bigger Around the World
Lindt & Sprüngli grew a lot over the years. In 1994, they bought an Austrian chocolate company called Hofbauer Österreich. This company also owned the Küfferle brand.
Later, in 1997 and 1998, Lindt bought two more chocolate companies. They bought Caffarel from Italy and Ghirardelli from America. Both of these companies became part of Lindt. Lindt helped Ghirardelli become famous all over the world, not just in America.
In 2009, Lindt had to close some of its stores in the United States. This happened because fewer people were buying chocolate during a tough economic time.
Newest Developments and Products
On July 14, 2014, Lindt made its biggest purchase yet. They bought Russell Stover Candies, which also makes Whitman's Chocolate. This cost about $1 billion.
In November 2018, Lindt opened its first store in an American airport. It was at JFK Airport in New York. They also opened a main store in Canada, at Yorkdale Shopping Centre in Toronto.
After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Lindt decided to stop its business operations in Russia for a while.
In 2023, Lindt worked with a German company called ChoViva. They launched new vegan chocolates that are made without cocoa. Instead, they use oats and sunflower seeds.
Lindt Chocolate Factories
Lindt & Sprüngli has twelve factories around the world. These factories are in different countries:
- Kilchberg, Switzerland (the main factory)
- Aachen, Germany
- Oloron-Sainte-Marie, France
- Induno Olona, Italy
- Gloggnitz, Austria (makes Hofbauer & Küfferle products too)
- Stratham, New Hampshire, United States
The Caffarel factory is in Luserna San Giovanni, Italy. The Ghirardelli factory is in San Leandro, California, United States. There are also four more Russell Stover factories in the United States, including in Corsicana, Texas, Abilene, Kansas, and Iola, Kansas.
Since 2020, the main factory in Kilchberg has a special visitor center and museum. It's called the Lindt Home of Chocolate. This museum has the world's largest chocolate fountain! It is over nine meters tall and holds 1,500 liters of chocolate. The chocolate flows from a giant whisk. The museum teaches you about the history of chocolate. At the end of the tour, you can taste many different kinds of chocolate.
Famous Lindt Chocolates
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Lindt Chocolate Cafés and Stores
Lindt has opened more than 410 chocolate cafés and shops all over the world. These cafés mainly serve chocolate treats and desserts. You can also buy handmade chocolates, macaroons, cakes, and ice cream at Lindt chocolate cafés.
Lindt store at Zurich Airport
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Lindt store in Canal Walk mall, Cape Town
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Lindt store in Leeds
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See also
In Spanish: Lindt & Sprüngli para niños
- List of bean-to-bar chocolate manufacturers
- Cocoa-free chocolate alternative
