William Salice | |
|---|---|
 Salice in 2009 | |
| Born | 18 July 1933
Casei Gerola, Lombardy, Italy |
| Died | 29 December 2016 (aged 83)
Pavia, Lombardy, Italy |
| Occupation | Businessperson |
| Known for | Creating Kinder eggs |
William Salice ("sah-lee-chee"; 18 July 1933 – 29 December 2016) was an Italian businessman. He was employed at Ferrero SpA, where he was credited as the inventor of Kinder Eggs. [1] [2]
Life and career
Salice was born on 18 July 1933, in the Italian comune of Casei Gerola. [1] He began working at Ferrero in 1960, and eventually became a close collaborator of the company's owner, Michele Ferrero. [2] [3]
He thought up the concept of Kinder Surprise Eggs in the late sixties, [4] while researching alternative uses for the manufacturer's easter egg chocolate moulds, which went unused most of the year. [2] Despite this, he insisted on referring to Michele Ferrero as the inventor, claiming to merely be the idea's "material executor". [1] [2] Kinder Eggs were launched in 1974. [4]
Salice also played a part in the creation of several other Ferrero products, such as Ferrero Rocher and Pocket Coffee. [2]
After his retirement in 2007, Salice co-founded the Color Your Life Foundation, alongside Italian entrepreneur Enrico Gasperini. [5] It provides free courses for young aspiring entrepreneurs. [6]
Salice died on 29 December 2016, in the town of Pavia, after suffering a stroke. He was 83. [1] [2] [3] [4]
References
- ^ a b c d "È morto William Salice, "esecutore materiale" dell'Ovetto Kinder". Il Sole 24 Ore (in Italian). 30 December 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f "William Salice, creator of Kinder Surprise, dies at 83". The Straits Times. 30 December 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
- ^ a b "Morto William Salice, collaboratore di Ferrero: inventò l'Ovetto Kinder". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). 30 December 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
- ^ a b c "Morto William Salice, il "papà" degli ovetti Kinder". EuroNews (in Italian). 30 December 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
- ^ "Il Fondatori". www.coloryourlife.it (in Italian). Color Your Life Foundation. Archived from the original on 2 January 2017. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
- ^ "L'ex manager che aiuta i sognatori". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). 7 July 2012. Retrieved 30 December 2016.