Who founded Lindt chocolate?

Rodolphe Lindt founded Rod. Lindt & Sons in Bern in 1879. David Sprüngli and Rudolf Sprüngli-Ammann had established the earlier Sprüngli chocolate business in Zurich in 1845, which later became part of the Lindt & Sprüngli history.

Is Lindt the same company as Sprüngli?

Lindt and Sprüngli share a corporate history but are not identical retail businesses in every market. The businesses were combined after Chocolat Sprüngli AG acquired Rodolphe Lindt’s company, brand, and recipe in 1899, creating the foundation of Lindt & Sprüngli.

Does Lindt own Ghirardelli and Russell Stover?

Yes. Lindt & Sprüngli acquired Ghirardelli in 1998 and Russell Stover in 2014. Both became part of the wider Lindt & Sprüngli Group rather than changing the Swiss origin of the Lindt brand.

Does Lindt use animal testing?

The supplied company research identifies Lindt’s ingredients, vegetarian and vegan product information, and recall information, but does not establish a verified animal-testing policy. Individual product suitability should therefore be assessed from current packaging and the company’s current policy statements.

Are Lindt products safe for people with nut allergies?

Lindt does not guarantee that every product is free from nut allergens. Lindt states that products containing nuts may be manufactured on the same lines or in the same production area, and consumers should check the allergen declaration for each product.

Where can I find the official Lindt website?

Lindt’s official website is lindt.com. Product information, ingredients, allergen statements, and market-specific notices can vary by country.

Who owns Lindt?

Lindt

Ultimate ownerSwitzerlandChocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli AG

Brand origin: Switzerland
Main production: Several countries, incl. Switzerland

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About Lindt

What is Lindt?

Lindt is a Swiss chocolate and confectionery brand. The Lindt brand is associated with chocolate bars, truffles, pralines, seasonal products, and other cocoa-based confectionery sold internationally. Lindt is part of the Lindt & Sprüngli Group, which develops, produces, and sells chocolate and related confectionery products. The group reported sales of CHF 5.92 billion in 2025 and had around 15,500 employees worldwide in 2025.

Who owns Lindt?

Lindt is ultimately owned by Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli AG, according to Made O’Meter’s ownership data verified on 13 September 2026. Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli AG is headquartered in Kilchberg, Switzerland, and is a publicly listed company whose shares trade on the SIX Swiss Exchange. The company is the holding company of the Lindt & Sprüngli Group. The group also owns or operates other chocolate businesses and brands, including Ghirardelli, Russell Stover, Caffarel, Hofbauer, and Küfferle.

Where does Lindt come from?

Lindt originated in Switzerland. David Sprüngli and his son Rudolf Sprüngli-Ammann produced the first solid chocolate in the German-speaking part of Switzerland in Zurich in 1845. The first company associated with the later Lindt brand was David Sprüngli et fils Societät, established by David and Rudolf Sprüngli in Zurich in 1845. Rodolphe Lindt founded Rod. Lindt & Sons in Bern in 1879. In the same year, Rodolphe Lindt invented the conching process, which produced chocolate with a smooth-melting texture. The Lindt brand originated from Rodolphe Lindt’s Bern company and later became part of Lindt & Sprüngli through an acquisition in 1899.

How did Lindt become part of Lindt & Sprüngli?

Lindt became part of Lindt & Sprüngli in 1899, when Chocolat Sprüngli AG acquired Rodolphe Lindt’s Bern chocolate factory, brand, and secret recipe. The buyer paid 1.5 million gold francs for the business, including the Lindt brand and recipe. Rodolphe Lindt retained a say in the business as a condition of the sale. After the acquisition, the company adopted the name Aktiengesellschaft Vereinigte Berner und Zürcher Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli. A large Lindt & Sprüngli factory had been constructed in Kilchberg near Zurich in 1898, and it began operating after the 1899 acquisition. The company changed its name to Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli AG in 1930. Lindt & Sprüngli later acquired Hofbauer and Küfferle in 1994, Caffarel in 1997, Ghirardelli in 1998, and Russell Stover in 2014.

What products does Lindt make?

Lindt makes chocolate bars, filled chocolates, pralines, truffles, and seasonal confectionery. Lindt LINDOR is a major range of chocolate truffles and related products. Lindt EXCELLENCE includes high-cocoa-content dark chocolate bars, including 70%, 85%, 90%, and 99% cocoa varieties. Lindt also sells milk chocolate, white chocolate, filled chocolate, and products containing nuts, fruit, caramel, or other fillings. Product ranges and recipes vary by market. Lindt & Sprüngli has represented Lindt through public advertising for more than 30 years, according to the group’s brand history.

Is Lindt Swiss or American?

Lindt is Swiss, not American. The Lindt brand originated in Switzerland through Rodolphe Lindt’s Bern company, and its ultimate owner, Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli AG, is headquartered in Kilchberg, Switzerland. Lindt has substantial operations in North America, but the group established its United States presence as part of its international expansion rather than as the brand’s country of origin. The company established general agencies and subsidiaries in Germany, the United States, and the United Kingdom in the early twentieth century.

Where is Lindt chocolate made?

Lindt chocolate is made through the manufacturing operations of the Lindt & Sprüngli Group. A major historical factory was constructed in Kilchberg near Zurich in 1898 and began operating after the 1899 acquisition of Rodolphe Lindt’s business. The group operates internationally and has manufacturing and commercial operations serving Europe, North America, and other markets. The group’s holding company is headquartered at Seestrasse 204 in Kilchberg, Switzerland. The exact manufacturing location can vary by product and market, so the packaging for a particular Lindt product provides the most specific origin information.

Is Lindt chocolate vegan or vegetarian?

Some Lindt products are suitable for vegans, but Lindt as a whole is not a vegan brand. Lindt states that its EXCELLENCE 70%, 85%, 90%, and 99% dark chocolate bars are made without animal products. Many other Lindt products contain milk, milk products, milk fat, cream, or eggs. Lindt states that its chocolates, including LINDOR and EXCELLENCE products, are suitable for vegetarians, but individual ingredients and allergen warnings should be checked on the package.

Has Lindt had recalls or allergen issues?

Lindt has issued product recalls for specific products and batches, including a 2022 recall in the Netherlands of one batch of LINDOR Salted Caramel 38g bars because a packaging error resulted in some packs containing wheat that was not declared on the label. The affected batch had code L5751 17 and a best-before date of June 2022. Lindt also states that gluten can occur in some products and that products containing nuts may be made on shared lines or in shared production areas. Consumers should rely on the current packaging and official local recall notices for product-specific safety information.

How large is Lindt & Sprüngli?

Lindt & Sprüngli reported group sales of CHF 5.92 billion and operating profit of CHF 971.0 million for 2025. The group reported around 15,500 employees worldwide in 2025. In the first half of 2025, North America contributed CHF 799 million, Europe contributed CHF 1.25 billion, and the rest of the world contributed CHF 304 million to group sales. The group describes Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli AG as a listed holding company with shares traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange.

Frequently asked questions about Lindt

Who founded Lindt chocolate?: Rodolphe Lindt founded Rod. Lindt & Sons in Bern in 1879. David Sprüngli and Rudolf Sprüngli-Ammann had established the earlier Sprüngli chocolate business in Zurich in 1845, which later became part of the Lindt & Sprüngli history.
What made Lindt chocolate different?: Rodolphe Lindt’s invention of the conching process in 1879 produced chocolate with a smooth-melting texture. The process became a defining part of the history of the Lindt brand.
Is Lindt the same company as Sprüngli?: Lindt and Sprüngli share a corporate history but are not identical retail businesses in every market. The businesses were combined after Chocolat Sprüngli AG acquired Rodolphe Lindt’s company, brand, and recipe in 1899, creating the foundation of Lindt & Sprüngli.
Does Lindt own Ghirardelli and Russell Stover?: Yes. Lindt & Sprüngli acquired Ghirardelli in 1998 and Russell Stover in 2014. Both became part of the wider Lindt & Sprüngli Group rather than changing the Swiss origin of the Lindt brand.
Does Lindt use animal testing?: The supplied company research identifies Lindt’s ingredients, vegetarian and vegan product information, and recall information, but does not establish a verified animal-testing policy. Individual product suitability should therefore be assessed from current packaging and the company’s current policy statements.
Are Lindt products safe for people with nut allergies?: Lindt does not guarantee that every product is free from nut allergens. Lindt states that products containing nuts may be manufactured on the same lines or in the same production area, and consumers should check the allergen declaration for each product.
Where can I find the official Lindt website?: Lindt’s official website is lindt.com. Product information, ingredients, allergen statements, and market-specific notices can vary by country.