Pierre Marcolini

Pierre Marcolini (born 12 July 1964) is a Belgian chocolatier born in Charleroi in 1964.

Facade of the boutique Pierre Marcolini in St Honoré, Paris, France
Interior of the boutique Pierre Marcolini in St Honoré, Paris, France
La Malline Découverte - 34 exclusive creations of Maison Pierre Marcolini

Biography

Youth

Pierre Marcolini was born in Charleroi on 12 July 1964. His maternal grandparents hail from Verona, Italy.[1]

He studied at the Centre d'Enseignement et de Recherches des industries Alimentaires et Chimiques (Ceria) and the Infobo of Uccle.

Professional life

Having qualified as a chef-pâtissier, he was employed variously in Belgium and France, including employment at such prestigious institutions as Wittamer and Auguste Fauchon.[2][3]

In 1995, he won the "World Champion Pastry Chef in Lyon and opened his first shop.[4]

Visiting the chocolaterie of Maurice Bernachon, he was inspired by the artisanal methods of the Lyonese, henceforth considering him one of his mentors, along with the pâtissier Gaston Lenôtre.[5][6]

In 2007, Nestlé acquired a 6% stake in the business.[7] Marcolini then creates a chocolate flavour for Nestle subsidiary Nespresso, whereupon Nestle increased its share to 29%.[8] The partnership ended in December 2011 as Marcolini and other shareholders bought out Nestlé's share.[9] The following year, Marcolini raised additional capital from investment group NEO Capital.[10]

As of 2012, the corporation employs 350[1] and as of 2015 holds 30 shops, most notably in London, Tokyo, Paris and Brussels.[11] In 2012, it generates 32 million Euros in revenue.

The corporation has a manufacturing facility in Sablon, one of the most upmarket parts of Brussels.[12][13] Marcolini controls his production "from bean to bar".[14][15] He artesanally produces his own couverture chocolate, and selects his suppliers from among plantations in Brazil, Equatorial Guinea and Mexico.[7][16] In 2012, the company produced 150 tons of chocolate.

Marcolini has collaborated with other creatives such as the stylist Olympia Le-Tan and fashion label Kitsuné.[17]

Television

As of July 2013, he is a member of the jury of culinary reality TV show Qui sera le prochain grand pâtissier ? ("Who will be the next great pastrymaker?"), broadcast by France 2.[5]

Books
  • Éclats, Les Chocolats de L'iris, 2007
  • Dix petits doigts pleins de chocolat, Racine, 2010
  • Chocolat Café, Éditions Laymon, 2011
  • Chocolat Plaisir, Éditions Solar, 2014
  • Cacao, de la Fève à la Tablette, Éditions de la Martinière, 2015
  • Best Of Pierre Marcolini, Alain Ducasse Éditions, 2015

Awards

Marcolini received the first national prize of artistic merit in 1988. In 1991, he was named "premier pâtissier glacier de Belgique" (best Belgian cake-and-icecream maker).[3][18] In addition to the Coupe du Monde de la Pâtisserie in 1995, Marcolini won the coupe européenne de pâtisserie in 2000.[19] The tourist office of Brussels has named him "Ambassadeur du Tourisme" (tourism ambassador).[2] In January 2015, Marcolini received the honorary title of "Officier de l'Ordre du Mérite Agricole" (officer of the order of agricultural merit).

See also

Notes and references
  1. Willy Le Devin (24 March 2012). "Pierre Marcolini, le chocolatier haute couture". Libération.
  2. Brigitte Fernandez (2009). Le Petit Futé: Guide du chocolat (in French). Petit Futé. p. 62. ISBN 9782746923003.
  3. Marie-Annick Gouguenheim (10 December 2004). "Pierre Marcolini et ses chocolats " haute couture "". Les Échos.
  4. Fruit, Clémence (2014) "Pierre Marcolini, Ambassadeur de la Haute Chocolaterie", Pâtisserie & Compagni Novembre - Décembre 2014 (in French).
  5. René Sépul (17 June 2014). "Pierre Marcolini : "Je voulais des chocolats différents"". Victoire magazine.
  6. Georgia Dehn (11 December 2014). "Pierre Marcolini unveils his Christmas chocolate collection". The Daily Telegraph.
  7. "Pierre Marcolini : Chocolatier " Haute Couture "". La Tribune. 17 August 2010.
  8. Sandrine Vandendooren (12 January 2012). "Les chocolats Marcolini à nouveau 100 % belges". Le Vif.
  9. F.C. (12 January 2012). "Marcolini étiqueté "100 % belge"". La Libre Belgique.
  10. Patrick Van Campenhout (25 July 2013). "15 millions d'euros pour Marcolini". La Libre Belgique.
  11. Melisha Kaur (24 March 2015). "Belgian chocolatier Pierre Marcolini to open flagship store in London". Evening Standard.
  12. "Jean-Philippe Darcis : " il faut privilégier la qualité et rester courageux "" (in French). Le Suricate Magazine. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  13. lesoir.be. "Les gravures de Paul Delvaux chez MC2". lesoir.be. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  14. Marie-Annick Gouguenheim (29 March 2013). "De la fève à la tablette". Les Échos.
  15. "Pierre Marcolini et la fève baracoa de Cuba". L'Express. 24 March 2010.
  16. Hadrien Gonzales (29 March 2013). "Chocolat, retour à l'authentique". Le Figaro.
  17. Laura Bonnet (24 March 2015). "Les chocolats de Pierre Marcolini x Maison Kitsuné". Vogue Paris.
  18. "Pierre Marcolini ou l'art de devenir chocolatomane". Le Soir. 24 May 1997.
  19. Jacques Mercier (2006). Belges en France (in French). Lannoo Uitgeverij. p. 82. ISBN 9782873864781.
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