Domenico Ghirardelli 1817 Domenico Ghirardelli is born in Rapallo, Italy, to an exotic foods importer and his wife. At a young age, Domenico is introduced to the chocolate and confectionary trade when he apprentices with a local candy maker. 1847 Ghirardelli changes his Italian first name to the Spanish equivalent, Domingo. Domenico Ghirardelli signature Illustration of historic Ghirardelli location 1849 Ghirardelli sails to America and opens a general store in Stockton, California, offering supplies and confections to miners. Ghirardelli opens a second store on the corner of Broadway and Battery in San Francisco, which becomes his first establishment in the city. 1852 At Kearny and Washington streets in San Francisco, Ghirardelli opens a confectionary shop, Ghirardely & Girard, which eventually becomes the modern-day Ghirardelli Chocolate Company. Photo of historic Ghirardelli location Historic photo of man working at Ghirardelli factory 1865 A Ghirardelli employee discovers that by hanging a bag of chocolate mass in a warm room, the cocoa butter drips out, leaving a residue that can be processed into ground chocolate. This is known as the Broma process and produces a more intense chocolate flavor than other techniques. 1884 Three of Domingo’s sons become partners in the business, which ships products throughout the West and to the eastern U.S., China, Japan and Mexico. Illustration of Ghirardelli Ground Chocolate package Historic Ghirardelli office 1892 Domingo retires as head of the company, turning over its management to his sons. In 1894 Domingo dies during a trip to Italy. 1893 In need of more space, the company buys the Pioneer Woolen Building on San Francisco’s northern waterfront, and manufacturing moves there; this is the present site of Ghirardelli Square. Illustration of Pioneer Woolen Building on San Francisco’s northern waterfront

Category: candy, chocolate, gifts, treats, grocery...