Ghirardelli Chocolate

Untitled Slide

Domingo ghirardelli

• From Rapallo, Italy- son of a chocolatier
• Opened confectionary store in Peru
• Immigrated to CA during the Gold Rush
• Opened company in 1852
• Chocolate, Brownies, Cookies and more

Background

• Born: February 21, 1817 in Rapallo, Italy
• Died: January 17, 1894 in Rapallo, Italy
• First wife: Elisabetta Corsini Ghirardelli  
• Second: Carmen Alvarado Martin Ghirardelli
• Italian-American 

Accomplishments

• Created modern way of chocolate production
• Company in continuous operation since 1852
• 1885- imported 450,000lbs of cocoa seeds
• 1st Ghirardelli Chocolate Festival in 1996
• Company controls entire chocolate production process

Domingo Ghirardelli first made chocolates in Peru. His friend, James Lick, took 600lbs of it with him to California. So popular that he moved there. Originally to follow Gold Rush- unsuccessful.

Chocolate already existed around the world but Ghirardelli used different methods of production that made his chocolate different/better.

1. Innovator- turns ideas, technology, etc. into goods/services that people want.
2. Risk Taker- take on risk of starting new business.

3. Spark Plug- supplies energy needed to turn ideas into realities.
4. Strategist- supplies vision and makes key decisions.

Innovator:
Domingo Ghirardelli took the regular process of chocolate production and improved it. Made his chocolate the best and what people wanted.

Risk Taker:
Domingo moved from Peru all the way to California, at first for the gold rush but ended up opening his own confectionary. Left home to dedicate himself to a business that he didn't know would succeed.

Spark Plug:
If it were't for Ghirardelli's desire to succeed, his business wouldn't have lasted as long as it has.

Strategist:
Domingo had the vision inspired by his father to start the confectionary and chose location and employees like his son.

Ambition
Self-Confidence
Willingness take Risk
Energy/Self Discipline
Perseverance
Problem-Solving
Organization
Motivation

Ambition:
Domingo imagined the end result which kept him going and set a goal for his confectionary to achieve. Even in Great Depression he managed to stay open.

Self-Confidence:
If Domingo hadn't been confident in himself, he probably wouldn't have moved to CA and opened a store.

Willingness to take Risks:
He risked pretty much everything he had to open his own chocolate company. Moved several times, spent a lot of money and time, etc.

Energy/Self-Discipline:
In order to make a successful company, Domingo had to dedicate his free time to his work, even vacation time. Still worked during Great Depression and through bankruptcy.

Perseverance:
Domingo never gave up on his dream even when the company went practically bankrupt during the Great Depression. He continued to work.

Problem-Solving:
When his company declared bankruptcy, he was left to rebuild his entire company.

Organizational Skills:
Domingo managed his life with work and family just fine, he hired family members and managed to keep everything organized for later dates.

Ability to Motivate Others:
Through the tough times in his company, Domingo held onto his employees and kept everyone working no matter what.

Sites

• "Domingo Ghirardelli." Oakland Wiki. creativecommons.org, 01 Sep 2013. Web. 27 March 2014.
• "Ghirardelli Chocolate." http://www.ghirardelli.com. Ghirardelli Chocolate Company, n.d. Web. 27 Mar 2014. .
• "Domingo Ghirardelli." Wikipedia. Wikipedia Foundation, Inc, 26 Aug 2013. Web. 27 Mar 2014. .
• "History of Chocolate." ghirardelli.com. Ghirardelli Chocolate Company , n.d. Web. 27 Mar 2014. .
• "Domenico Ghirardelli." nnbd.com. Soylent Communications, n.d. Web. 27 Mar 2014. .

Sites

• "Domingo Ghirardelli." candyhalloffame.org. NCSA National Confectionery Sales Association, n.d. Web. 27 Mar 2014. .
• Liz, . "DOMENICO “DOMINGO” GHIRARDELLI, SR., CHOCOLATE DUDE." funnynamesblog.com. WordPress.org, 07 Jan 2014. Web. 27 Mar 2014. .