The Italian family company Balocco looks back on a long tradition with world-famous confectionery. But within a very short time, the company loses two important heads. After the death of his 91-year-old father, CEO Alberto Balocco also died tragically.
The Italian businessman Alberto Balocco is dead. As several media reports, the 56-year-old died on Friday afternoon from a lightning strike in the Italian Alps near Turin. Balocco was riding e-bikes with a 55-year-old friend at an altitude of around 2,300 meters when they were reportedly surprised by a storm.
"You are exposed to dangers up there," the Italian newspaper "La Stampa" quoted a spokeswoman for the alpine mountain rescue service. There are no shelters or tall trees where lightning could discharge. A driver discovered the lifeless bodies of the two in a curve and alerted the rescue workers. But all resuscitation measures failed. The public prosecutor's office in Turin initiated investigations.
Alberto Balocco was CEO of the family business of the same name, which is known for its confectionery, including the traditional Christmas cake panettone. The President of the Piedmont Region, Alberto Cirio, was shocked "by this sudden tragedy", reported "La Repubblica". He offered condolences to the family of the deceased and highlighted his importance for the Piedmont region where the company is based.
Alberto Balocco's father, Aldo Balocco, died less than two months ago at the age of 91. According to the APA news agency, he had converted the confectionery company founded by his father Francesco Antonio in 1927 into a group that employs 500 people and achieved sales of 200 million euros in 2021. According to the "Bild" newspaper, Alberto Balocco leaves behind a wife and three children. It is still unclear whether his sister Alessandra, who is a co-owner of the family business, will succeed him.
