| Maurice Bernachon | |
| Birth Date: | July 1919 |
| Birth Place: | Saint-André-le-Gaz, France |
| Death Date: | 18 September 1999 (aged) |
| Death Place: | Lyon, France |
| Nationality: | French |
| Occupation: | Chocolatier |
Maurice Bernachon (July 1919, Saint-André-le-Gaz – 18 September 1999, Lyon) was a master chocolatier and founder of the Bernachon family business.[1]
The son of a signalman, Bernachon started an apprenticeship as pâtissier in Pont-de-Beauvoisin at 12 years of age.[1] [2] In 1975 he created the Président, a cake creation to celebrate the admission to the French League of Honor of Paul Bocuse by then-president of France Valéry Giscard d'Estainga cake that made him famous.[3]
He was one of the few French chocolatiers who would entirely manufacture their own chocolate from raw cocoa, imported variously from Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil and Equatorial Guinea.[1] [4] [5]
He retired in 1997, leaving the management of his chocolate business to his son Jean-Jacques (1944–2010), husband to Françoise, the daughter of Paul Bocuse.[1]
The business is currently run by Philippe and Stéphanie Bernachon, the children of Françoise and Jean-Jacques.