 A spokesperson for Italian confectionery company Ferrero SpA confirmed today that their joint chief executive Pietro Ferrero has died in an accident in South Africa. The 47-year-old father of three was traveling for business when he reportedly fainted and fell from his bicycle during a routine ride. Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini released a statement saying, "Italy has lost a businessman who represented the best qualities of our economic history." Ferreo's father, 85-year-old father Michele is Italy's richest man, having taken over the company from his parents Piera and Pietro who founded the company in the 1940s. Ferrero SpA produces Kinder products, Nutella (which was invented in the back of Piera and Pietro's bakery), Mon Cheri, Tic Tac and the eponymous Ferrero Rocher. Mr. Ferrero jointly ran the confectionery group with his brother Giovanni. |
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Cycling is widely regarded as a very effective and efficient mode of transportation[5] optimal for short to moderate distances. Bicycles provide numerous benefits by comparison with motor vehicles, including the sustained physical exercise necessarily involved in cycling, that cycling involves a reduced consumption of fossil fuels, less air or noise pollution, much reduced traffic congestion, easier parking, greater maneuverability, and access to both roads and paths.,:
My own blog site
<http://www.foodsupplementcenter.com
I am disgusted at every heartless person in this discussion. Besides family members or friends or employees who have commented, not one of you other fools know this man. I was privileged enough to meet him (as well as his wife and 3 children) and work for their family in one of their stays in SA last year. Not once did I experience a "bad temper" with any of his employees or even family, I never experienced an "I'm better than you attitude" or "I have no time for those who do not earn what I earn attitude". In fact he he was a really down to earth person and an intelligent man and he made time to talk to those who worked for them and showed interest in what that person was saying. He was a fit cyclist and it was definately a passion of his, being that I studied sport science, we spoke about his interest and love of the sport. He cycles almost every day he is here (WITH A HELMET AND CORRECT CYCLING GEAR), either from his home in Hout Bay to his home in Clifton or starting in Clifton and ending in Hout Bay. Until an autopsy, not one of you know how he died and falling off a bike can happen for many different reasons resulting in a broken neck or damage to his head even through a helmet, and yes a healthy/fit individual can have a heart attack. If any of you knew exercise science you would know a thing called Sudden Cardiac Death which by definition: "Sudden cardiac death is a condition that results from an abrupt loss of heart function (cardiac arrest). It can occur in anyone, especially athletes with preexisting heart conditions. The athlete may or may not have diagnosed heart disease. The time and mode of death are unexpected, usually occurring minutes after symptoms appear. The most common underlying reason for adults to die suddenly from cardiac arrest is coronary heart disease (fatty buildups in the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle)." So yes on the outside to both himself and friends and family he could've been fit and healthy, but there could have been an underlying heart condition he had no clue about. Maybe you should research it and you will see it is not uncommon, soccer players have collapsed on the field due to SCD...and unless you know the signs and have the correct equipment (ie. a passerby will not), you will not know how to respond to CPR correctly. So all you idiots who have no idea about what can happen to an athlete, shut the hell up. He also has a family and just because he is wealthy (ie. you are all jealous of his success), you feel the need to assume you know him and talk the biggest load of rubbish about him. RIP Pietro Ferrero! My condolences to his family, friends and work collegues (including employees).
I am disgusted at every heartless person in this discussion. Besides family members or friends or employees who have commented, not one of you other fools know this man. I was privileged enough to meet him (as well as his wife and 3 children) and work for their family in one of their stays in SA last year. Not once did I experience a "bad temper" with any of his employees or even family, I never experienced an "I'm better than you attitude" or "I have no time for those who do not earn what I earn attitude". In fact he his really down to earch and intelligent and he made time to talk to those who worked for them and showed interest in what that person was saying. He was a fit cyclist and it was definately a passion of his, being that I studied sport science, we spoke about his interest and love of the sport. He cycles almost every day he is here (WITH A HELMET AND CORRECT CYCLING GEAR), either from his home in Hout Bay to his home in Clifton or starting in Clifton and ending in Hout Bay. Until an autopsy, not one of you know how he died and falling off a bike can happen for many different reasons resulting in a broken neck or damage to his head even through a helmet, and yes a healthy/fit individual can have a heart attack. If any of you knew exercise science you would know a thing called Sudden Cardiac Death which by definition: "Sudden cardiac death is a condition that results from an abrupt loss of heart function (cardiac arrest). It can occur in anyone, especially athletes with preexisting heart conditions. The athlete may or may not have diagnosed heart disease. The time and mode of death are unexpected, usually occurring minutes after symptoms appear. The most common underlying reason for adults to die suddenly from cardiac arrest is coronary heart disease (fatty buildups in the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle)." So yes on the outside to both himself and friends and family he could've been fit and healthy, but there could have been an underlying heart condition he had no clue about. Maybe you should research it and you will see it is not uncommon, soccer players have collapsed on the field due to SCD...and unless you know the signs and have the correct equipment (ie. a passerby will not), you will not know how to respond to CPR correctly. So all you idiots who have no idea about what can happen to an athlete, shut the hell up. He also has a family and just because he is wealthy (ie. you are all jealous of his success), you feel the need to assume you know him and talk the biggest load of rubbish about him. RIP Pietro Ferrero! My condolences to his family, friends and work collegues (including employees).
... and in other news, the Prime Minister of Italy fainted and fell off a teen aged hooker, but survived.
Will they bury him in a big clear case with a flip open lid?
Just to let everyone who's making assumptions and questioning the cause of his death.
"Ferrero was cycling ... when he fell off his bicycle. A passer-by stopped to assist him and performed CPR. When ambulance services arrived they declared him dead. It is suspected he died of a heart attack."
- Cape Times, South African Newspaper
your all crying for this cunt he made money off child labour to sell all of your attention deficite children, ferreros! lets see his little smooth handed kids working the coco fields for a buck fifty a day (spit)
p.s. the golden one is my favourite with tasty hazel nut inside
Condolences to the Ferrero family for their loss. It seems he had a heart attach, and came off the bike. I find it strange that for an avid cyclist, it's a possible heart attack that got him. Meanwhile, nothing's been confirmed yet. Will just have to wait for the autopsy report.
The place where he died is part of the route of the Argus Cycle Tour held every year in CT, South Africa. Stunning scenery looking out over the Atlantic.
no the old saying is that everyone has a number i guess his was up rip
A painful loss of leadership for the company and the family. Wondering any succession planning in place?
You're wierd.
I, too, love the orange Tic Tacs! His grandfather, who founded the company, also dies at a young age–50. Just one year older. So it may be inherited...
I wonder what toy surprise was in him when he cracked open?
sorry to hear this news...i loved his company's products, but am sure they will continue despite his untimely passing...may god bless his soul
One at a time. Soon I'll have control of the entire chocolate empire. Who will be my next victim?
A loss of leadership to the company and the family. Wondering any succession planning in place?
People fall and die every day So what? Hope he was saved.
AAAAHH too bad. Dick CEO'S. Maybe Trump, will go riding soon. Or maybe Palin, Romney...
So are they going to bury him in a large version of a Tic Tac case?
Wow this is a chocolate tragedy. Chocolatefly.com had this news posted as well.
Nutella Rules!!!
You know whom I AM. "Come and get me."
Have anyone ever gotten ther asses whipped by KUTTA KQUINTAY'S desendants? Guess who's ass they are coming for next? Do you have a love of your life? Then certainly, you will feel the pain you have wrongly made me to feel,only difference will be that your heart will not survive.Only Time.
I am appauled at the insensitivity of people who have commented. Do you have no respect? A son, father and husband has died in a tragic cycling accident and you joke about it.It is disrespectful. RIP.
Helmet?
Wonder if he was wearing a helmet! My daughter is learnin bike safety in 3rd grade...just sayin? Helmet safety? Don't be an egghead?
Someday I hope there is a reality show where they track down all you insensitive clods who write such thoughtless comments and you are forced to look into the We Know Who You Are camera. Now how cavalier will you be when you can't hide behind anonymity? Will you feel the shame and embarrassment that you should for being the heartless, insensitive, immature commentators that you are? Grow up and get a life.
That's sad. Those poor kids.
He was probably trying to eat a Tic Tac while biking and then he choked on it, fainted, crashed, and landed on his head. Hopefully the Gods or Demons will target the Starbucks CEO next.
Accidents happen to the rich and famous. I feel sorry for his kids who won't have a dad around anymore. He should hav e been more careful, So Sad too bad!
There is one whom you refuse to know that will break you and your machines. meger mere man.
Oh no an obscenely rich guy died
What is mean? Is it like crucifying somebody to a plank of wood and feeling like you grew another inch to your small penis?
Not everyone reads anonymous discussion boards and lets it dictate their reality. Would be unwise considering any old idiot can post a message. No offense Kukkbhosad, I mean nothing by that, other than you're an idiot. Anyway, continue allowing CNN's discussion board and whatever other cheap, flippant and entirely valueless online trash set your moral compass for you. In the meantime I'll prepare my comment for your father's death – "Does that mean one less online troll for me to bash? Shi(t)!" Something like that anyway.
Reading these post remind me why I am armed at all times. So many people are heartless sick sociopaths.
My condolences to his friends and family.
Head injury? No helmet?
Heart a-tic-tack?
why are people being so mean on this forum?
Although I did not know Mr. Ferrero in person, I actually heard a lot of good stories about him from employees and people close to the company. It is rare that a businessman takes such good care of his employees as he has done and he has inspired many employers. I am shocked at some of the insensitive comments made here, obviously by people who hear his name the first time today. A father, a true family man and all in all as far as I can tell a really decent guy died and my prayers are with his loved ones. Although I do not always agree with Mr Frattini, I agree fully with his comment on this untimely death. I know that in these hours there are many who mourn him and at least people should have the decency not to abuse this sad news to spread their weirdo agendas or bad spelling (which seem to go hand in hand). Guys, we all have to die eventually and the fact that you are making jokes about this man's death not only is a testament to your bad manners or lack of education (did your parents teach you to talk like that about dead people?) but also evidence of the fact that you are afraid of death. Well, surprise, there is nothing to be afraid of because Christ has already conquered death. Here is a man who as I have been told believed in Christ and tried to live accordingly. If one day that will be said about me when I die, that would be enough. All of you who think it necessary to make childish comments, grow up.
Rest in peace, Signore Ferrero.
Thank you Steve for your comments, you are right. I'm also shocked how uncivilized and heartless people are, their comments made me sad. I work for Ferrero and we deeply grieve over this sad news and feel sorry. It's a big loss for his family, company and all of us. He was a decent man, cared for his employees. RIP Pietro Ferrero.
People faint all the time, for a wide variety of reasons. He just happened to be on a bike when it happened and he fractured his skull when he hit the cement. I'm sure it was Obama's fault, because he wasn't born here and he's a Muslim and he has 25 social security numbers.
It's a tragedy, but sounds weird. I've never heard of someone fainting and falling off a bike. He must have had a heart attack or something.
Fainted and hit his head on the pavement............probably caused a blood clot and he went into a coma and passed away......
"The 47-year-old father of three was traveling for business when he reportedly fainted and fell from his bicycle during a routine ride. "
I read, right in this story, that he fainted and fell from his bike. So, I'd say that he didn't hit anything.
But, that is based upon the assumption that fainting when on a bike could cause one to fall from the bike.
Why he fainted, there are at least a dozen reasons that could account for that...
"BLESSED BE MY FRIENDS AND BLESSF BE THE FRIENDS OF MY FRIENDS." need i say more? you self centered punks!
Always wear a helmet when riding your bike, and don't forget to bring a towel!
My God. A man died. He has family and friends who loved him! I offer my condolences to all who loved him. Is there any civility left in this world?
Is this the same company that makes the Red Hots, Atomic Fireballs and Jaw Breakers? Those are delicious candies that I ate heartily in my youth and occasionally in my adulthood. Still great!
Sigh – what has become of us all
I just found that by far the oddest part of the story's facts not to be the mundane manner of anyone's passing. But instead it was the statement that even given all the shipping magnates, movie industry heads, automotive giants, etc. – not to mention the homebase for all mafia families in that country – THIS guy's pop is "the richest man in Italy." Wow, apparently making tooth-rotting trash like like Tic-Tac pays one heckuva lot more than most people would ever imagine!
He just passed out and died? weird. Thanks for the awesome Treats! You will be making delicious yum yums for god now.
What does his income level matter? Three children have lost a father. The world has become a cold, sick, heartless place when you can't even feel slightly sorry for a devastated family, regardless of circumstances of death or tax bracket. You should be ashamed.
boo hoo the poor willy wonker family boo hoo natural selection. your right the world has become a cold, sick, heartless, and you forgot mindless place.
Glad you feel that way. To make you feel better, we have seating for one in the STFU cafe.
And you just added to the "cold, sick, heartless" place that it has become. Total tool.
That comment was meant for ziccy not Truth.
This is what i propose to do;find any and all perpetrators of crimes and render uponto them all what they least expect.A peculiar peaple, a royal preisthood anyone?
Oh man father of three suddenly dead. Sad.
My guess is he had some undiagnosed health problem. Heart defect, diabetes, etc.
My cousin lived to be 35 before she realized she had a hole in her heart so it can happen.
Now the kids have to cope with a missing father. How does a wealthy influential family cope with finding a replacement? It can't be easy, they usually won't settle for just any tom, dick or harry.
Chocolates are for the narrow simple minded without balls nor heart.
I LOVE Chocolate Balls and Hearts.....Easter is just around the corner....Yay!!!!!!!
Rest in peace. Please thank your grandparents for me.
The same thing happened to a friend of mine 6 years ago; unfortunately he was in a coma for a year before he finally died (skull fracture, was wearing helmet).
So unlike many posts here, this does not surprise me or make me suspicious.
Pretty disgusted at some of these comments... Bunch of no-life jerks...
R.I.P. Pietro Ferrero
Good thing no Republicans get abortions, eh?
Where do politics fit into this story? You heartless fool.
Where can i buy mon cheri they were my favorite
Don't know anything about the guy. But 47 years old with 3 kids? I could wish him a little longer life. 47 is too young.
I'm with you, Burbank. What I find really curious is they say he fainted. How do they know that?
ps: To everyone hating rich people. Refer to the final paragraph where gramma and grampa are sweating their (blanks) off in the back of a hot bakery.
he was on a bike, not walking
What the hell is wrong with people? A young guy with a family dies and you think it is a good thing, or funny, or retribution, just because he was born into a wealthy family? We happen to know him, and he was a damned nice guy whose company provided lots of good jobs in Alba and who supported the community in many other ways. What is it you want? A world where no one is successful enough to build a business that provides decent jobs? This from a country where a large number of people actually think that Donald freakin Trump ought to President
Well said, and thanks. I was amazed at some of the posting here, and ashamed at that. I'm sorry for your loss and thoughts to the family.
BULL!
what are the odds that this guy had diabetes too? perhaps that is why he fainted...
i'm guessing he wasn't wearing a helmet?? i wouldn't have either if i had hair as magnificent as that, but perhaps it was his fatal flaw. just because you paid $1000 or more for a bike doesn't make you a professional rider either.
so he fainted fell off his bike and died? who dies from falling off their bike? seems like theirs something missing to this story. my condolences to his family though. very sad.
And why is this justice? He was a damned nice guy who worked hard and whose company provided lots of good jobs in Alba. And your contribution to the world is????? You are truly pathetic.
Why is this headlined as "Tic Tac CEO dies"? There are soooo many better products to list! Is this the best CNN can come up with? It's unfortunate that he died, at least give the man some respect.
a routine bike ride? so he was a experianced rider and he died from just a fall? opens up alot of speculation without further explanation. maybe tony soprano is behind it.
Does it really mattter – just mourn the man--
Actually, they should have called it a "Cycling Accident - anyone who is a serious rider is a "cyclist". Anyway, I've been in a few crashes and a lot of things could have caused it, a tire-touch of a rider in front, a flat, loss of control due to excessive speed, or a car, to name a few. If he wasn't wearing a helmet, then he was foolish, because when these things happen, they happen fast and you are helpless to stop it.
Who ever said he was a serious rider? Thanks for explaining how biking accidents happen. I didn't know someone could fall off of a bicycle.
7 months ago, I suddenly lost consciousness while riding my mountain bike. Dehydration, fatigue, hypoglycemia? There are many possibilities.
They wer pretty clear he fainted and fell—not touched a wheel. Maybe a stroke or heart attack is what actually killed him.
@Burbank, what business is it of yours? If you're a relative, I'm sure someone will give you the details. If you're not, you don't deserve them.
A top businessman from a big company owned by a very wealthy family died at a young age in a rather prosaic way. That's hardly "not much of a story," Kathy.
It's surprisingly easy to die falling off a bike. If you are going fast, and break incorrectly, the bike can flip back over front and you can be thrown head-first into the ground. Even if you're wearing a helmet, your cervical vertebrae (that's neck, to you) is unprotected. And that's just one way, Kathy.
Welcome to reality.
From the Wall Street Journal article:
Mr. Ferrero, 47 years old, died after collapsing during a routine bike ride, company spokesman Raoul Venturi said. Mr. Ferrero was a cycling enthusiast.
Mr. Venturi said "fragmentary" accounts of the circumstances that led to the executive's death indicated that Mr. Ferrero had fainted during the ride, causing him to lose control of the bike.
RIP, I will think of you next time I buy a jar of Nutella or eat a Kinder Pingui.
omg...u actually eat that crap nutella? its bloody awful...kinda/sorta like vegemite or marmite...ugh
It's like peanut butter, only made with hazelnuts & cocoa.
Marmite and vegemite are yeast extract aka leftovers from brewing beer. Nutella is a chocolate / hazelnut spread. Have you ever actually tried it?
@parkcitybrian-You, obviously, have never tried Nutella. It is sooooooo good–much better than peanut butter.
Taste is subjective. I prefer Nutella over peanut butter
What pretty eyes that man had!
It's no surprise that the company made money hand over fist given the price of their Ferrero Rocher candies. Those things are delicious, but priced like much higher-grade chocolates.
It will never be the same when I shove that kinder suprise up my as(s)
I thought the same thing after you all got your asses kicked in Houston....Funny!
Opps, they changed the meat photo to a leafy green photo now. So I guess the back drop has nothing to do with the story line. But for now, at least until the change the backdrop again I'll just say, Lettuce all pray for Mr. Ferrero.
Why above this very vague story is there a photo of a huge piece of meat? Is the writer implying that the dead fellow is dead meat? And is it possible that Ferrero may have put a Tic Tac up his crack and got a bang so intense that it literally knocked his egg-noggin into a wall of confectional cement? One things for sure, on a bike this man was no confectionist.
It's lettuce now.
Yes. That was the intent. I mean, this isn't a web site dedicated to food news that might have randomly selected images of food or anything like that.
It doesn't say or imply that he fell off his bike without hitting anything. Why do you need the gory specific details of how he died? If he'd been run over by a pack of stampeding elephants would it make him any more/less dead? The purpose of the article isn't to entertain you with details of his death, it's to inform you that it occurred.
When money $ is on the line, people suspect foul play when someone falls off a bike and dies, I know I do!
In light of any comments toward people that want specifics on his death. Just remember the old saying, "You learn from other peoples mistakes". Even though it might not have been his fault, maybe we all can still learn from this unfortunate situation if details were given.
We can all learn from his mistake and give more meaning to his unfortunate demise.
It was described as a regular training ride. He may have been moving fairly fast. My first question is was he wearing a helmet. His father was with him on the trip (not the ride).
You have to realize that you are dealing with gutless, liberal beta-humans when commenting here. I mean these people enjoy killing babies so much that they line the streets and begin chanting nonsense.
We're coming for you next jimmy
This story is missing some details. Falling off a bicycle kills about 0% of people unless they fall from a cliff, land on their head or get hit by something? Weird.
He abruptly fainted. leaving the possibility of heart attack, stroke, or some other such event.
Some nice guesses, but my own would be that he fainted... and was fine were it not for a truck or car that ran him over.
A well known bicycle magazine once wrote that 85% if all brain concussions that happen on a bicycle , happen at less than 10 MPH while riding without a helmet. So , if you faint due to unspecified circumstances and you hit the pavement with your head, you could end up dead.
That's right. A fall from as little as 3 feet can kill you, if you land on the right place on your head! A fall from a bike is much more than that. Without any details there is no way of knowing. The only details we know are he was riding a bicycle, he fainted and now he's dead. Anything else is conjecture.
One of the local newspapers said that he had a heart attack and that is why he fainted and fell off his bike, so yeah, hope that helps with the details...
Sorry to hear ... RIP ... I will think of u every time I eat a TicTac!
I'm saddened by the inventor of TIC-TAC. He was a gracious man, although I've heard bad things about some of the people he has fired and his bad temper. I wish the rich would take pity on us because we don't have as much wealth. we live paycheck to paycheck and they could care less.
Why does the inventor of Tic Tac make you sad? This article isn't about him. And, it's "couldn't care less" not "could care less".
If the article wasn't about "him" what was it about? And who are you, the grammar Czar? You must really have some issues.
Grammar is important, without it no one can be sure of what you've attempted (and in this case failed) to say. The article was 1st about his death, which necessarily but secondarily involved him.
Nunya, what business is it of yours if his death made someone sad? It is NUNYA business. You are one bizarre individual.
@Rigel54–If grammar is so important to you, you better take a refresher course or something because I found no less than five grammatical errors in your response. Get off your high horse.
Nunya, you are correct. A man died from a bicycling accident. You comment. The reds come out to show their colors.
Nunya: Most likely Giovannio was responding via Yahoo.Italia and writing in English from his own language of Italian. It's a courtesy on his part to even bother trying to communicate with Americans who never make their way back to night school to complete that G.E.D. before the global marketplace leaves them in further behind. If you hurry, completing that coursework in Engilsh would give you a fine start toward learning a second language as well. Come si dice "Nunya" in Italiano?
NUNYA – You are a humorless fellow – which is its own punishment.
Rigel54 – Laughably, your grammar is deficient, too.
I agree
Bad way to go out.
Hope they memorialize him in a kinder egg surprise.
Love the orange Tic-Tacs!
I will cosign that