Chocolate and coffee entrepreneur with a legacy of philanthropy

By Haig Simonian

Published: September 12 2008 03:00 | Last updated: September 12 2008 03:00

Klaus Jacobs, the entrepreneur who built his family's coffee roasting business into one of the biggest coffee and chocolate empires in the world, died yesterday at 71.

German-born, Swiss naturalised and a UK resident, Mr Jacobs' biggest move was the sale of Jacobs Suchard, the business he had developed through organic growth and canny deals, to Philip Morris.

The proceeds went to creating Barry Callebaut, the world's leading industrial chocolate maker, and Adecco, the biggest international temporary employment group.

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