Lindt & Sprungli Hosts Inaugural Holiday Factory Lighting Event With Global Brand Ambassador Roger Federer

STRATHAM, N.H., Nov. 17, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- This Tuesday, Lindt & Sprungli, the world's leading producer of premium chocolate, held the inaugural holiday lighting event of the company's historic facility in Zurich, Switzerland.  Lindt Global Brand Ambassador and Swiss tennis star Roger Federer and Ernst Tanner, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Lindt & Sprungli, were there with the Lindt Master Chocolatiers to switch on a spectacular display of 24 holiday-themed lighting projections that alternately decorated the 111-year-old factory.  Projected images covering the building's facade included Christmas trees, reindeer, a winter wonderland and a larger-than-life box of Lindt chocolates.  The Lindt & Sprungli lighting installation was designed especially for the occasion by internationally renowned light artist Gerry Hofstetter.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101117/NE03901 )

(Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20101117/NE03901 )

Two lucky U.S. residents visited the Lindt & Sprungli global headquarters, courtesy of Lindt USA, where they had the rare opportunity to be a part of the inaugural lighting event, meet Federer, and receive a personal tour of the historic facility.  Gail Cook from Endwell, N.Y. and Jane Kriebel of Tampa, Fla., each enjoyed a free three-day Swiss vacation for two as the grand prize winners of Lindt's "The Perfect Match" sweepstakes.  Kriebel's prize was sponsored in partnership with Tennis Channel, Inc.

"The Lindt factory lighting event is our gift to everyone who loves chocolate and the holiday season," said Ernst Tanner, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Lindt & Sprungli.  "We are delighted to host chocolate lovers around the world to kick off the season, and we hope our 'Perfect Match' winners enjoy their taste of Switzerland and the opportunity to spend time with our brand ambassador, Roger Federer."

The lighting design was created exclusively for Lindt & Sprungli by Hofstetter, a Swiss native and one of the world's best-known light artists.  The 48-year-old illusionist from Zurich and his team use 6,000-watt projectors – some of the largest in the world – and slides to enhance and transform buildings, monuments and natural wonders into temporary art.  Hofstetter's past works include lighting the Giza pyramids and sphinx, Washington National Cathedral, and the Parisian Arc de Triomphe as well as projecting polar bears on Antarctic icebergs as part of the United Nations International Year of Freshwater.  The Lindt & Sprungli lighting will be on display for the public to enjoy through Dec. 26, 2010.  

Lindt hosted "The Perfect Match" sweepstakes on Lindt.com from July 19 – Sept. 12, 2010, giving Americans the chance to win a variety of premium chocolate prizes including a grand prize trip to Switzerland.  A second grand prize trip was sponsored by Tennis Channel in partnership with Lindt USA.  That "Perfect Match" sweepstakes was hosted on www.TennisChannel.com from Oct. 1 – Nov. 1, 2010.  

For more information on Lindt or the factory lighting, please visit www.Lindt.com.  To stay up to date on the latest Lindt Chocolate news and exclusive offers, visit Lindt's Facebook page (Facebook.com/LindtChocolate), Twitter handle (@Lindt_Chocolate) and blog, Lindt Chocolate Unwrapped.

About Lindt & Sprungli

Founded in 1845, Lindt & Sprungli is a global leader in the premium chocolate category, offering high-quality products in more than 100 countries.  Lindt & Sprungli operates eight production facilities in Europe and the United States and employs 7,400 worldwide.  Lindt USA operates more than 40 retail stores in the U.S. and maintains wide distribution through extensive retail and wholesale channels.  For more information on Lindt, visit www.lindt.com.

SOURCE Lindt & Sprungli