Venchi is an Italian gourmet chocolate manufacturer founded by artisan chocolatier Silvano Venchi. After its establishment in Turin in early 1878, the company gained immediate popularity throughout Italy with its Nougatine, small candies made of crushed and caramelized hazelnuts coated in dark chocolate. The company's manufacturing follows typically regional recipes while also favouring a strict selection process of its primary ingredients. Many of the 250 products in their collection are still handmade and distributed on demand, as for example the well-known Gianduja chocolate made with hazelnuts from Piedmont, (a Protected Geographical Indication ingredient).
For the production of the various chocolates, Venchi prefers cocoa originating from the best plantations in Central/South America and Africa, distilled rum from the Caribbean, as well as natural vanilla. The Piedmontese hazelnuts are claimed to prevent the chocolate from tasting acid. Venchi chocolate does not contain animal fats, hydrogenated oils, or artificial preservatives / fillers.