Lindt's National Identity: Austrian Or Swiss?

Lindt & Sprüngli is a Swiss chocolate brand with a history that dates back to 1845. The company was founded by David Sprüngli-Schwarz and his son Rudolf Sprüngli-Ammann, who opened a small confectionery shop in Zurich, Switzerland. Over the years, the company expanded and now has a global presence, with manufacturing plants in the US and Europe, including Austria. In 2012, Lindt inaugurated its headquarters in Vienna, Austria, which is located in the imperial Schönbrunn Palace. The company has been manufacturing chocolate treats for over 150 years and is known for its unique flavours and high-quality products.

Lindt & Sprüngli was founded in Switzerland in 1845

In 1859, Sprüngli and Son opened a second confectionery on Paradeplatz in Zurich. In 1879, Rodolphe Lindt, the son of a pharmacist and master confectioner, purchased two fire-damaged factories near Berne and invented the "Conche", which created the world's first melting chocolate. In 1892, Rudolf Sprüngli-Ammann retired and divided the company between his two sons. In 1899, Johann Rudolf Sprüngli-Schifferli, who had inherited the chocolate factory, acquired Rodolphe Lindt's small but famous chocolate factory, merging the two companies to form Lindt & Sprüngli.

Rodolphe Lindt invented the world's first melting chocolate in 1879

Rodolphe Lindt, born Rudolf Lindt, was a Swiss chocolate maker, chocolatier, and inventor. He was born in 1855 in Bern(e), Switzerland, to a pharmacist and politician father, Johann Rudolf Lindt, and his wife, Amalia Eugenia Salchli.

Lindt founded his own chocolate factory in the Mattequartier, in the Old City of Bern(e), in 1879. At the time, chocolate was a brittle, rough-surfaced, and bitter substance that was laboriously pressed into moulds by hand. Lindt's brother, August, a pharmacist, suggested that the excess liquid in the chocolate paste crystallising with the sugar should be extracted during the manufacturing process. This led to Lindt inventing the "Conche" and producing the world's first melting chocolate, or "Chocolat fondant".

The "Conche" was a lengthwise stirring device that gave chocolate a finer consistency and allowed undesired aromas, such as bitterness, to evaporate. Lindt's invention created a chocolate with a smooth, velvety, creamy, melt-in-your-mouth feel. This was the first time chocolate had been produced as we know it today.

Lindt's melting chocolate significantly contributed to the worldwide reputation of high-quality Swiss chocolate. He kept his invention a secret until the Sprünglis, another Swiss confectionery family, acquired his factory, secret recipe, and marketing rights in 1899. The two companies merged to form "Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli AG", which still exists today.

Lindt & Sprüngli has been headquartered in Vienna, Austria, since 2012

Lindt & Sprüngli is a Swiss company that was founded in 1845 by David Sprüngli-Schwarz and his son Rudolf Sprüngli-Ammann. They were the first to produce chocolate in solid form in the German-speaking area of Switzerland. In 1899, the company merged with Rodolphe Lindt's small but famous chocolate factory in Berne, becoming 'Aktiengesellschaft Vereinigte Berner und Zürcher Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli'.

Over the years, Lindt & Sprüngli has expanded internationally, with subsidiaries and distributors in countries all over the world. In 1994, Lindt & Sprüngli (Austria) Ges.m.b.H. was founded in Salzburg and later relocated to Vienna when the company acquired the well-known Viennese Confiserie-Group Hofbauer. Lindt & Sprüngli has been headquartered in Vienna, Austria, since 2012, in the imperial Schönbrunn Palace, one of the country's most important national monuments.

The company has a long history of innovation in chocolate manufacturing, beginning with the invention of conching by Rodolphe Lindt in 1879. This process created a fine-melting texture by evenly combining the cocoa mass and cocoa butter with other ingredients, resulting in the world's first melting chocolate. Lindt & Sprüngli continues to innovate with new products and flavours, while also acquiring other chocolate businesses such as Hofbauer, Küfferle, Caffarel, Ghirardelli, and Russell Stover.

Today, Lindt & Sprüngli is a household name, signalling bliss, quality, and chocolate delight worldwide. The company has 12 factories globally and is committed to sustainability and creating a high-quality product that does not harm the environment.

Lindt chocolate is manufactured in 12 factories across the world

Lindt is a Swiss chocolate brand that has been manufacturing chocolate for over 150 years. The company was founded in 1845 by David Sprüngli-Schwarz and his son Rudolf Sprüngli-Ammann, who were the first to produce chocolate in solid form in the German-speaking area of Switzerland.

The company has since expanded globally, with 12 factories across the world where they make their chocolates. Lindt has a strong presence in Europe, with 10 factories located on the continent. These factories can be found in the following cities:

• Induno Olona, Italy
• Aachen, Germany
• Oloron-Sainte-Marie, France
• Kilchberg, Switzerland
• Gloggnitz, Austria

The remaining two factories are located in the United States, specifically in:

Stratham, New Hampshire

Lindt's factories in Europe and the United States produce a variety of chocolates, including the brand's famous chocolate truffles and bars. The company's global expansion has made it a household name in the chocolate industry, known for its high-quality and delicious treats.

Lindt & Sprüngli is committed to sustainability and launched its Farming Program in 2008

Lindt & Sprüngli is a Swiss chocolate brand that has been manufacturing chocolate for over 175 years. The company is committed to sustainability and launched its Farming Program in 2008.

The Farming Program is an initiative to support sustainability and responsible sourcing in the company's supply chain. The program aims to create decent and resilient livelihoods for cocoa farmers and their families and encourage more sustainable farming practices. The program is built on four pillars: traceability, training, community support, and verification.

Lindt & Sprüngli recognises the importance of high-quality cocoa as its most important raw material. Through the Farming Program, the company aims to address challenges faced by cocoa-producing countries, such as low yields, insufficient income for farmers, poor infrastructure, and environmental issues like climate change and deforestation. The program focuses on increasing the resilience of farming households, reducing the risk of child labour, and conserving biodiversity and natural ecosystems.

To achieve these goals, Lindt & Sprüngli registers cocoa farmers, maps cocoa farms, and traces the journey of cocoa beans from farm to factory. They provide training to farmers in agricultural and environmental practices, as well as social practices like health, safety, labour standards, and child labour sensitisation. The company also invests in supporting cocoa farmers, their families, and communities by providing productive and disease-resistant cocoa seedlings, farming equipment, and access to financial knowledge and services.

Since its launch in 2008, the Farming Program has expanded significantly. It initially started in Ghana and now includes Côte d'Ivoire, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Madagascar, Papua New Guinea, and Peru. As of 2020, the company achieved its goal of sourcing 100% of its cocoa beans through the Farming Program, and by 2023, they sourced about 68% of their cocoa products through this initiative. Lindt & Sprüngli aims to source 100% of cocoa products (beans, butter, powder, and chocolate mass) through the Farming Program or other sustainability programs by 2025.

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