Is Ghirardelli owned by Lindt?

Yes. Ghirardelli is wholly owned by Lindt and Spruengli AG, which acquired the brand in 1998 for approximately $17 million from Quaker Oats.

Is Ghirardelli publicly traded?

Ghirardelli itself is not separately publicly traded. Parent company Lindt and Spruengli AG trades on the SIX Swiss Exchange under ticker LISP.

When was Ghirardelli founded?

Ghirardelli was founded in 1852 by Domenico Ghirardelli in San Francisco, California. It is the oldest continuously operating chocolate company in the United States.

Who was Domenico Ghirardelli?

Domenico Ghirardelli was an Italian immigrant born in Rapallo, Italy, in 1817. He came to San Francisco during the California Gold Rush in 1849 and established the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company in 1852.

Where are Ghirardelli products made?

Ghirardelli products are manufactured at the company's facility in San Leandro, California. Cocoa beans are sourced through Lindt and Spruengli's Farming Program.

How many Ghirardelli shops are there?

Ghirardelli operates approximately 50 company-owned chocolate shops and cafes across the United States, typically located in high-traffic tourist and retail areas.

Food & Beverage

Who Owns Ghirardelli?

Ghirardelli is owned by Lindt and Spruengli AG (SWX: LISP), the Swiss premium chocolate manufacturer headquartered in Kilchberg, Switzerland. Lindt acquired Ghirardelli in 1998 for approximately $17 million. Ghirardelli was founded in 1852 by Italian immigrant Domenico Ghirardelli in San Francisco and is the oldest continuously operating chocolate company in the United States. The brand operates approximately 50 chocolate shops and cafes across the US and is a leading premium chocolate brand in the American market. Lindt and Spruengli is publicly traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange under ticker LISP.

Parent Company

Lindt & Sprüngli

Acquired

1998

Status

Publicly Traded

Headquarters

San Leandro, California, USA

Ghirardelli Timeline

1845

Lindt & Sprüngli

Parent company established in Kilchberg, Switzerland

Company Founded

1852

Ghirardelli

Founded by Domenico Ghirardelli

Founded

1998

Acquired by Lindt & Sprüngli

Lindt & Sprüngli acquired Ghirardelli

Acquired

premiumus premium chocolate leaderUnited Statesall-consumersOfficial Website

Who Owns Ghirardelli?

Parent Company: Lindt & Sprüngli
Ownership Type: Wholly owned
Acquisition Year: 1998
Company Type: Publicly Traded
Stock Ticker: SIX: LISP

Brand	Parent Company	Ownership Type
Ghirardelli	Lindt & Sprüngli	Wholly owned

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History of Ghirardelli

Founded: 1852
Founders: Domenico Ghirardelli
Acquired by Lindt & Sprüngli: 1998

Domenico Ghirardelli was born in Rapallo, Italy, in 1817. He developed his confectionery and chocolate-making skills in South America before emigrating to San Francisco in 1849, drawn by the California Gold Rush. He initially ran a supply store for miners in Stockton, California, but shifted to manufacturing confections including chocolate after moving to San Francisco.

In 1852, Ghirardelli established the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company, making it the first continuous commercial chocolate operation in the United States. The company grew to become one of San Francisco's most prominent businesses. Ghirardelli's original manufacturing complex on the San Francisco waterfront, now known as Ghirardelli Square, was transformed into a retail and restaurant complex in the 1960s and remains one of San Francisco's most visited landmarks.

In 1865, Ghirardelli discovered that by hanging a bag of ground cacao beans in a warm room, the cocoa butter would drip off, leaving behind a residue that could be processed into ground chocolate. This was a significant innovation in chocolate manufacturing, though the Broma process was later superseded by industrial methods.

Ghirardelli was acquired by the Golden Grain Company (maker of Rice-A-Roni) in 1963. Golden Grain was later acquired by Quaker Oats. Lindt and Spruengli purchased Ghirardelli from Quaker Oats in 1998 for approximately $17 million. Under Lindt's ownership, Ghirardelli's distribution expanded nationally, and the retail cafe chain was developed into a significant business with approximately 50 locations.

In 2014, Lindt and Spruengli acquired Russell Stover, another American chocolate brand, further expanding its US presence. Ghirardelli and Russell Stover now operate as separate brands within the Lindt and Spruengli portfolio, targeting different segments of the American chocolate market.

About Lindt & Sprüngli

Is Lindt & Sprüngli publicly traded?
Yes, Lindt & Sprüngli is publicly traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange under the ticker symbol LISP. The holding company, Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli AG, is headquartered in Kilchberg, Switzerland. The company has a dual share structure with registered shares and participation certificates, and has initiated a CHF 1 billion share buyback program. The proposed dividend for FY2025 is CHF 1,800 per registered share and CHF 180 per participation certificate.

What is Lindt & Sprüngli's annual revenue?
Lindt & Sprüngli generated CHF 5.92 billion in revenue for FY2025, representing organic growth of 12.4% from CHF 5.47 billion in FY2024. The growth was driven by Group-wide price increases of 19.0% to offset unprecedented high cocoa costs, partly offset by a volume/mix decline of 6.6%. The company's EBIT was CHF 971.0 million with a 16.4% margin, and net income was CHF 726.7 million.

Who is the CEO of Lindt & Sprüngli?
Adalbert Lechner has served as CEO of the Lindt & Sprüngli Group since October 1, 2022. He joined the company in 1993 as CEO of the Austrian subsidiary, became CEO of the German subsidiary in 1997, and was appointed to Group Management in 2017. Ernst Tanner serves as Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors, a role he has held since 1994. The Group Management team consists of eight members.

What brands does Lindt & Sprüngli own?
Lindt & Sprüngli owns six main chocolate brands: Lindt (the flagship brand sold in over 120 countries), Ghirardelli (the oldest continuously operating chocolate company in the US, acquired in 1998), Russell Stover (the leading US boxed chocolate brand, acquired in 2014 for approximately $1.4 billion), Whitman's (a companion gifting brand to Russell Stover), Caffarel (the Italian brand known for creating the gianduiotto, owned since 1997), and Hofbauer and Kupferle (Austrian confectionery brands).

How does Lindt & Sprüngli source its cocoa sustainably?
Lindt & Sprüngli operates the Farming Program, established in 2008 as its Responsible Sourcing Standard for cocoa. The program is built on Rainforest Alliance certification and strengthened by targeted investments. The company aims to invest CHF 300 million in the program between 2026 and 2030. In 2025, 59.8% of cocoa volumes were sourced as deforestation-free, and all 12 factories have been Rainforest Alliance certified since 2024. The company is also a member of the World Cocoa Foundation and the Cocoa & Forests Initiative.

What are Lindt & Sprüngli's climate targets?
Lindt & Sprüngli has committed to science-based targets with the goal of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across its value chain by 2050. Near-term targets include reducing absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 42% by 2030 and 90% by 2050 from a 2020 baseline, and reducing absolute Scope 3 FLAG emissions by 30.3% by 2030 and 72% by 2050. The company has implemented a No-Deforestation Policy with a cut-off date of December 31, 2020, and aims to support 20,000 hectares of advanced agroforestry between 2025 and 2030.

How many stores does Lindt & Sprüngli operate?
Lindt & Sprüngli operates approximately 620 of its own retail stores globally, along with 21 e-shops. The Global Retail channel achieved 20.8% growth in FY2025, driven by strong organic growth and network expansion across all markets. The company sells through 41 subsidiaries and branch offices as well as a network of approximately 100 distributors worldwide. Products are manufactured at 12 factories in Europe and the USA.

What is Lindt & Sprüngli's market position?
Lindt & Sprüngli is a global leader in the premium chocolate category. The company operates as a pure-play premium chocolate business, positioned above mass confectionery competitors like Mars and Mondelez but below ultra-luxury artisan chocolatiers. This premium positioning segment has been largely created and defined by Lindt globally. The company has delivered consistent revenue and earnings growth for more than two decades and grew its market share in FY2025 despite unprecedented cocoa cost challenges.

Founded: 1845
Headquarters: Kilchberg, Switzerland
Company Type: Publicly Traded
Stock: SIX: LISP
Revenue: CHF 5.92B (FY2025)
Employees: ~15,500

Visit Lindt & Sprüngli website

View full company profile for Lindt & Sprüngli

Where Is Ghirardelli Made / Based?

Headquarters: San Leandro, California, USA
Manufacturing / Operations: United States

Ghirardelli Categories & Tags

Chocolate Premium Chocolate American Brand San Francisco Lindt Premium Brand

Ghirardelli Sustainability & Ethics

Ghirardelli's sustainability practices fall under Lindt and Spruengli's global sustainability framework, which centers on the Lindt and Spruengli Farming Program.

Lindt and Spruengli Farming Program: Lindt and Spruengli sources cocoa beans through its Farming Program, which works directly with cocoa farmers in Ghana, Ecuador, Madagascar, and Papua New Guinea. The program promotes sustainable farming practices, provides training to farmers, and supports community development projects. Ghirardelli products use cocoa sourced through this program.
Traceability: The Farming Program provides traceability from cocoa farm to factory. Lindt and Spruengli publishes annual sustainability reports detailing the program's impact.
No Child Labor: The Farming Program includes monitoring and remediation systems to address child labor risks in cocoa supply chains, in compliance with the Harkin-Engel Protocol and subsequent FDA regulations.
Packaging: Lindt and Spruengli has committed to making all packaging recyclable, reusable, or compostable. Ghirardelli packaging falls under this commitment.
Carbon Reduction: Lindt and Spruengli has set science-based targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions across its operations and supply chain.

Lindt and Spruengli publishes annual sustainability reports covering Ghirardelli's environmental and social performance. However, brand-level sustainability data for Ghirardelli is not published separately.

Awards & Recognition

Ghirardelli has not received specific formal industry awards. The brand's recognition comes from its heritage and market position.

Oldest Continuously Operating Chocolate Company in the United States: Founded in 1852, Ghirardelli holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously operating chocolate company in the US, with over 170 years of continuous operation.
Ghirardelli Square Landmark: The company's original manufacturing complex on the San Francisco waterfront was converted into Ghirardelli Square in the 1960s. It is one of San Francisco's most visited landmarks and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Market Leadership in Premium Baking Chocolate: Ghirardelli is one of the leading brands in the US premium baking chocolate segment, with strong market share in chocolate chips and baking bars.
Retail Shop Presence: Ghirardelli operates approximately 50 chocolate shops and cafes across the United States, including flagship locations at Ghirardelli Square, Disney Springs, and Times Square.

Ghirardelli Recalls & Controversies

Ghirardelli has maintained a relatively clean product safety record. The brand has not been involved in major recalls or controversies.

Cocoa Supply Chain Sustainability: Like all major chocolate brands, Ghirardelli faces scrutiny regarding the environmental and social sustainability of its cocoa supply chain. The cocoa industry globally faces challenges related to child labor, deforestation, and farmer poverty. Lindt and Spruengli's Farming Program addresses these issues, but critics argue that more transparency is needed.
Sugar Content: As a premium chocolate brand, many Ghirardelli products contain significant sugar content. Consumer health trends toward reduced sugar consumption have prompted the brand to offer higher-percentage dark chocolate products through its Intense Dark line.
Pricing Accessibility: Ghirardelli's premium positioning means its products are priced higher than mass-market chocolate brands like Hershey's and Mars. This limits the brand's accessibility to budget-conscious consumers.

Ghirardelli Ownership: Pros & Cons

Advantages

+Oldest continuously operating chocolate company in the US (founded 1852)
+Backed by Lindt and Spruengli's global chocolate expertise and resources
+Strong brand recognition in the US premium chocolate market
+Approximately 50 retail shops provide direct-to-consumer channel
+Leading brand in premium baking chocolate segment
+Ghirardelli Square is a major San Francisco landmark

Considerations

-Premium pricing limits accessibility to budget-conscious consumers
-Cocoa supply chain faces industry-wide sustainability challenges
-Competes with sister brand Lindt in the US premium chocolate market
-Limited international presence compared to Lindt branded products
-Sugar content concerns in some products
-Retail shop footprint is small compared to mass-market competitors

Frequently Asked Questions About Ghirardelli

Sources & Further Reading

Competitors to Ghirardelli

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Brand	Parent Company	Country	Founded	Market Position	Primary Market	Gender Target
Buick	General Motors	United States	1903	Premium	Global	All Genders
Butterfinger	Ferrero	USA	1923	Mass market	United states	All Genders
Ferrero Rocher	Ferrero	Italy	1982	Premium	Global	All-ages
M&M's	Mars Inc	USA	1941	Mass market	Global	All-ages
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Snickers	Mars Inc	USA	1930	Mass market	Global	Unisex

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