Nutella® is the brand name of a
hazelnut spread with a chocolate flavor manufactured by
Ferrero.
Nutella was invented in Alba, Italy, by Pietro Ferrero, a pastry maker, who, faced with a shortage of cocoa due to World War II rationing, cut hazelnut into the chocolate. The paste he created he called "pasta gianduja." In 1949, Ferrero sold a spreadable version called "supercrema gianduja." The Nutella brand name was introduced in 1964. It enjoys great popularity in Europe, and was introduced in the United States in 1983.
As a spread, Nutella outsells peanut butter worldwide.