India, Feb. 18 -- Italian chemist Francesco Rivella, the inventor of the world-famous hazelnut cocoa spread Nutella, passed away on Valentine's Day this year at the age of 97, according to several news reports.

Dubbed the "father" of Nutella, Rivella began working at Italian chocolate and confectionary company Ferrero in 1952. This was two years before Nutella was launched.

At that time, he was 25 years old and was fresh out of university, having earned a degree in bromatological chemistry in Turin.

Rivella was part of Ferrero's "chemistry room," working with the team responsible for studying raw materials in order to develop new products by blending, refining and tasting ingredients, according to a report by the New York Post.

Some o...