12 Facts About Philippe Suchard

Philippe Suchard was a Swiss chocolatier, industrialist and entrepreneur.

Philippe Suchard started as an apprentice in his brother Frederic's Konditorei in Bern around 1803, and was an associate in the business between 1815 and 1823.

In 1824, Philippe Suchard left Switzerland to visit the United States, later writing a book about his travels, and in 1825 he opened a confectioner's business in Neuchatel.

In 1826, Philippe Suchard opened the factory of Chocolat Philippe Suchard in Serrieres, a neighborhood of Neuchatel.

Philippe Suchard used hydropower of the nearby river to run the mills in his two-man factory.

Philippe Suchard used a grinding mill consisting of a heated granite plate, and several granite rollers moving forwards and backwards.

Philippe Suchard struggled financially early in his career as a chocolatier.

Philippe Suchard's success came in 1842, with a bulk order from Frederick William IV, king of Prussia, who was the prince of Neuchatel.

Carl Russ-Philippe Suchard opened the first Philippe Suchard factory abroad in 1880 in Lorrach, Germany.

Philippe Suchard was not only a chocolatier but had interest in other areas.

Philippe Suchard tried introducing silkworm culture in Switzerland in 1837, but the silkworms were destroyed during an epidemic in 1843.

Philippe Suchard invested in the Asphalt Mining Company of Val-de-Travers, La Presta Asphalt Mine.