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Theodor Tobler, born in 1876 in Bern, Switzerland, was the son of confectioner Johann Jakob Tobler and grew up immersed in the family's confectionery tradition.
After receiving a commercial education in Geneva and Venice, he joined the family business at a young age.
In 1899, Johann Jakob Tobler transformed the family's confectionery shop into a chocolate factory named Fabrique de Chocolat Berne, Tobler & Cie.
Following his father's death in 1900, Theodor Tobler assumed control of the company at the young age of 24.
Setting the stage for his future innovations in the chocolate industry.
Toblerone was created in 1908 by Theodor Tobler and his cousin Emil Baumann in Bern during a time of rapid expansion in the Swiss chocolate industry.
Emil Baumann developed the unique recipe, which consisted of milk chocolate with white nougat, almonds, and honey. Theodor Tobler created the distinctive triangular shape and packaging.
The product's name is a portmanteau of "Tobler" and "torrone" (an Italian nougat). Its triangular shape was allegedly inspired by either the Matterhorn in the Swiss Alps or a pyramid formation created by dancers at the Folies Bergère.
In 1909, Theodor Tobler applied for a patent for the Toblerone manufacturing process. He trademarked the brand, establishing it as the first patented milk chocolate made with almonds and honey.
Interestingly, Albert Einstein, who was working as a clerk at the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property at the time, was supposedly involved in processing Toblerone's patent application.
Theodor Tobler's innovative triangular design for Toblerone, inspired by the Swiss Alps, revolutionized chocolate packaging in the early 20th century.
This unique shape made Toblerone instantly recognizable and placed it among other groundbreaking consumer product designs of its time, such as the distinctive Coca-Cola bottle introduced in 1915.
By 1919, Toblerone's popularity had skyrocketed, and the company's annual revenues exceeded 100 million Swiss francs.
After departing from the Toblerone company in 1933, Theodor Tobler purchased a new candy company in Bern, the Klameth.
Expanding beyond confectionery, he later founded Typon AG, a company that produced films for the graphic industry.
Theodor Tobler was an active member of the Masonic lodge Zur Hoffnung in Bern, reflecting his engagement with social and philosophical circles of his time.
He was also involved in organizations advocating for European federalism.
Tobler's participation in such groups suggests he was part of a broader movement in the early 20th century that envisioned a more unified Europe, possibly as a means to promote peace and economic cooperation in the aftermath of World War I.
Theodor Tobler passed away on May 4, 1941, in Bern. He is remembered in the chocolate industry as an innovative pioneer, and his creation, Toblerone, became a globally recognized brand.
In the modern era, Toblerone continues to thrive under Mondelez International's ownership, maintaining its iconic triangular shape and expanding its product line.
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