L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, AUGUST 8, 2024 www.italoamericano.org 16 L'Italo-Americano M u t t i i s a well-known I t a l i a n t o m a t o processing company, with a rich history dating back to 1899. Found- ed by Marcellino and Cal- listo Mutti in the village of Piazza di Basilicanova in the Parma region, the company began its journey as a small family business focused on p r o d u c i n g h i g h - q u a l i t y tomato products. Mutti quickly established a r e p u t a t i o n f o r q u a l i t y , which was further solidified in 1911 when the company r e g i s t e r e d i t s D u e L e o n i (Two Lions) trademark and w o n t h e F i r s t - C l a s s G o l d Medal at the International I n d u s t r y a n d A g r i c u l t u r e Exhibition in Rome. Without a doubt, one of the significant innovations in Mutti's history was the intro- duction of tomato paste in a tube, developed by Mar- cellino's son, Ugo Mutti, in 1951. This "thimble tube" was revolutionary because it prevented the product from coming into contact with air, thereby extending its shelf l i f e a n d m a i n t a i n i n g i t s f r e s h n e s s . T h i s p r a c t i c a l packaging solution was well- received by consumers and marked a significant mile- stone for the company . In 1971, Mutti introduced p o l p a , a f i n e l y c h o p p e d tomato product which is, still today, one of its most popu- l a r o f f e r i n g s . P o l p a w a s developed using a cold-pro- c e s s i n g m e t h o d t h a t p r e - served the fresh taste of the tomatoes and set a new stan- dard in the industry . The late 20th century saw Mutti transitioning into a joint-stock company in 1979, r e f l e c t i n g i t s g r o w t h a n d e x p a n d i n g i n f l u e n c e . I n 1 9 9 4 , F r a n c e s c o M u t t i t o o k o v e r a s C E O , a n d brought about a new era of i n n o v a t i o n a n d q u a l i t y focus: under his leadership, the company emphasized p a y i n g h i g h e r p r i c e s t o farmers for better-quality t o m a t o e s a n d i n t r o d u c e d several new products and certifications . In the modern era, Mutti continued to innovate and expand: the company was the first in Italy to have its products certified for inte- g r a t e d p e s t m a n a g e m e n t a n d n o n - G M O i n 1 9 9 9 , a certification underscoring Mutti's commitment to sus- tainability and high-quality standards. Furthermore, the launch of the Pomodorino d ' O r o ( G o l d e n T o m a t o ) award in 2000 incentivized farmers to produce top-qual- ity tomatoes . As a modern company, Mutti is also deeply commit- ted to sustainability, as demonstrated through vari- ous initiatives and partner- ships aimed at reducing the environmental impact of its p r o d u c t i o n p r o c e s s e s . Mutti's approach to sustain- a b l e a g r i c u l t u r e f i r s t l y involves close collaboration with local farmers, promot- ing organic farming tech- niques and natural pest con- t r o l m e t h o d s t o r e d u c e chemical inputs, maintain- ing soil health and biodiver- sity for long-term productiv- ity . At a broader level, by col- laborating with WWF Italy, Mutti focuses on reducing CO2 emissions and minimiz- ing water usage across its supply chain by implement- ing best practices in sustain- able agriculture and produc- tion . Water conservation is a key aspect of their strategy, with advanced irrigation sys- tems optimizing water usage in tomato cultivation, which i s c r u c i a l i n r e g i o n s w i t h water scarcity . Additionally, Mutti enhanced energy effi- ciency within its production facilities by adopting energy- efficient technologies and i n c o r p o r a t i n g r e n e w a b l e energy sources, thus greatly reducing the company's car- bon footprint. Mutti's global expan- sion efforts bore fruit with the establishment of Mutti F r a n c e i n 2 0 1 3 , a i m e d a t developing the French mar- ket. This was followed by the acquisition of the Oliveto Citra factory in 2016 and the Copador consortium in 2017, enhancing their production c a p a b i l i t i e s a n d p r o d u c t r a n g e . I n t h e U S , M u t t i p r o d u c t s c a n b e f o u n d i n prominent grocery chains s u c h a s W h o l e F o o d s , where customers can find a variety of offerings, from their tomato puree and cher- ry tomatoes to passata and pizza sauce. I n a d d i t i o n t o p h y s i c a l stores, Mutti has embraced e-commerce, making its products available through o n l i n e p l a t f o r m s s u c h a s Amazon and specialty food retailers like Eataly. Eataly, in fact, not only sells Mutti products but also features them in various recipes. T inned tuna is a p a n t r y s t a p l e found in kitchens a r o u n d t h e world, valued for its convenience, versatility, and nutritional benefits. Its invention can be traced back to the innovative efforts of the Florio family in Sici- ly, a name that has left an important mark on the Ital- ian industrial and cultural landscape. The Florio family, origi- nally from Calabria, moved to Palermo in the late 18th century and quickly rose to prominence as one of Italy's most influential industrialist dynasties. Ignazio Florio Sr., a key figure in the family, e x p a n d e d t h e i r b u s i n e s s empire to include shipping, pharmaceuticals, and food processing. It was I g n a z i o F l o r i o Sr. who revolutionized the tuna industry by introducing the concept of tinned tuna: in those years, tuna fishing in Sicily was a traditional activity with limited preser- vation methods, primarily salting. Ignazio Florio Sr. saw an opportunity to inno- vate and expand the market f o r S i c i l i a n t u n a a n d , i n s p i r e d b y t h e c a n n i n g t e c h n i q u e s u s e d i n F r a n c e , h e e s t a b l i s h e d modern canning facilities in the early 19th century. This allowed the freshly caught tuna to be preserved in olive oil and sealed in tin cans, sig- nificantly extending its shelf life and making it accessible to a broader market. The Florios' tinned tuna quickly became a symbol of quality and excellence, as this rich, flavorful version packed in high-quality olive o i l w a s a f a r c r y f r o m t h e salted or dried fish common- l y a v a i l a b l e a t t h e t i m e . Moreover, canned tuna could be transported and stored without refrigeration, revolu- tionizing how people con- sumed fish. We should mention that the Florios were much more than an industrialist family, they were also patrons of the arts, supporters of scientific research and played a signifi- cant role in the cultural and social development of Sicily. T h e i r l e g a c y i n c l u d e s t h e famous Targa Florio car race and the development of t h e G r a n d H o t e l V i l l a Igiea in Palermo. So, next time you open a tin of tuna to put on your pizza or to add to a salad, remember that we have to thank the ingenuity and busi- ness know-how of a young Sicilian entrepreneur for it! T h e F l o r i o s w e r e t h e f i r s t t o p r e s e r v e t u n a i n t i n s ( P h o t o : M a n o l i t o Cortese/Dreamstime) Passata Mutti sold at Eataly (Photo: Vividaphoto/Dreamstime) Tinned tuna: from Sicily to the pantries of the whole world Mutti, the brand bringing the taste of Italy around the world IMPRESA ITALIA MADE IN ITALY TOP BRANDS BUSINESS & ECONOMY

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