Every other chocolate bar on the shelf is a flat rectangle. Toblerone has stood out for over a century by being a row of triangular peaks instead - and the real reason why is less settled than the famous story suggests.
The Matterhorn story everyone knows
Toblerone's packaging shows a mountain, and that mountain is the Matterhorn, near Bern in Switzerland, where Toblerone has been made since the bar launched in 1908. It's a genuine, well-documented link between the brand and the Alps - which is exactly why the explanation that Theodor Tobler shaped the bar after the mountain has stuck so firmly in popular belief.
The less-told cabaret version
According to Theodor Tobler's own sons, the actual inspiration was a dance finale at the Folies Bergere in Paris, where performers formed a human pyramid as their closing move. Tobler reportedly saw the show and carried the pyramid shape back into his product design. Sources disagree on how firmly settled this is - some treat the sons' account as the real answer, others say the question remains genuinely unresolved.
Why the shape stuck either way
Theodor Tobler developed the bar with his cousin Emil Baumann in 1908, and whichever story you believe, the triangular format gave it an instantly recognisable silhouette no competitor could easily copy - and made each individual peak easy to snap off and share, a practical side-benefit regardless of where the idea came from.
What we stock
We carry Milk Chocolate Toblerone 360g, Toblerone Milk Chocolate Bar 340g, Toblerone White Chocolate Bar 340g, Toblerone Orange Twist Bar 360g and the Toblerone Giant Gift Bar 4.5kg, all in our Toblerone collection.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Toblerone triangular?
The popular explanation is that Theodor Tobler shaped it after the Matterhorn mountain. According to Tobler's own sons, though, the real inspiration was a human pyramid formed by dancers in a cabaret finale at the Folies Bergere in Paris.
Is the Matterhorn connection on the packaging real?
Yes - the mountain printed on Toblerone's box is the Matterhorn, near Bern where Toblerone has been made for over a century. It's a genuine link, even if it's probably not the reason for the bar's shape.
When was Toblerone created?
Theodor Tobler launched it in Switzerland in 1908, developed with his cousin Emil Baumann.
Does Supreme Sweets stock Toblerone?
Yes - we carry several sizes and flavours, including the classic milk chocolate bar, white chocolate, orange twist and a giant gift bar.