Maria Franca Ferrero passed away at the age of 87 in her home in Alba, in northern Italy. Known to many simply as “Signora Ferrero,” she was the widow of Michele Ferrero, the visionary entrepreneur behind Nutella, and a discreet but constant presence alongside the man who transformed a family business into a global confectionery giant. Last December, she had been unanimously appointed honorary president for life of Ferrero International.

Born in Savigliano in 1939, Maria Franca studied classical subjects before training as an interpreter in Milan. She joined the Ferrero company in 1961 as a translator, at a time when the business was on the verge of becoming a multinational. It was there that she met Michele Ferrero; they married in 1962. Their first son, Pietro, was born a year later, followed in 1964 by Giovanni, who now leads the group, which operates 36 production plants across more than 170 countries.

The final years of her life were marked by profound personal losses, including the sudden death of her son Pietro in 2011 and that of her husband in 2015. Always far from the spotlight, Maria Franca Ferrero continued her philanthropic work, earning international recognition such as an award from the National Italian American Foundation. In 2024, she was honoured with the rank of Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic. She is survived by her son Giovanni, her daughters-in-law Paola and Luisa, and five grandchildren.