Enric Bernat
Catalan scientist and businessman (1923–2003)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Enrique Bernat Fontlladonosa; 20 October 1923 – 27 December 2003) was a Spanish scientist and businessman, and the founder of the Chupa Chups lollipop company.[1]
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20 October 1923
Enric Bernat | |
|---|---|
Portrait of Enric Bernat Fontlladonosa by Eulogia Merle, displayed at Fundación Española para la Ciencia y la Tecnología | |
| Born | Enrique Bernat Fontlladonosa 20 October 1923 Barcelona, Spain |
| Died | 27 December 2003 (aged 80) Barcelona, Spain |
| Occupations | Scientist, businessperson |
| Employer | Chupa Chups |
| Spouse | Núria Serra |
| Children | 5 |
Life
Bernat was the child of a confectioner Catalan family in the third generation and started his working life in his parents' cake shop.[2] In the early 1950s he went to north Spain to revive an apple jam factory.[2] As he introduced later his idea of lollipops to the investors, they left. Bernat took over the company in 1958 and renamed it Chupa Chups.[3] In 1969 Salvador Dalí was paid a fortune[clarification needed] to do the logo.[4][5]
In the 1980s, Bernat failed a take-over of the insurance company Iberia de Seguros to fund a new Catalan investment bank.[2] Despite the loss, he gained ownership of Gaudi's Casa Batlló.[2] In 1991, he passed formal control of Chupa Chups to his son Xavier.[2] The Smint subsidiary brand/company was founded in 1994.[6]
Together with his wife Núria Serra he had three sons and two daughters, all surviving him.[2]
Bernat died aged 80 at home in Barcelona on 27 December 2003, from an illness.[7][8] A hundred people attended his funeral in Les Corts.[9]
In 2006, Chupa Chups was sold to the Italian-Dutch company Perfetti van Melle by Bernat's sons.[10][11][12]