Nutella maker Michele Ferrero dies on Valentine’s Day

Michele Ferrero, whose Nutella chocolate and hazlenut spread helped raise generations of Europeans and defined Italian sweets, died on Valentine’s Day, the company said. He was 89. Ferrero, who had been ill for several months, died Saturday in Montecarlo where he lived, surrounded by his family, the company said in a statement. Ferrero, the world’s richest candy maker, was the patriarch of the eponymous family empire best known for its Nutella and Ferrero Rocher chocolates. The company’s products also included Tic Tacs and the Kinder line of products — including the eggs beloved by children for the treat inside.