Lazzaroni
Encyclopedia
Lazzaroni is the brand name related to several biscuit
s and bakery products manufactured by the Italian
company D. Lazzaroni & C. Spa.
Lazzaroni is a historical Italian brand and keeps on being highly regarded in the food industry
, namely thanks to products such as the Amaretti di Saronno
. D. Lazzaroni & C. Spa, being the first Italian company to transform biscuit manufacturing into an industrial process
, has been marketing Lazzaroni branded biscuits and pastries since 1888, even though the beginnings date back to the early 18th century.
to Saronno
at the beginning of the 18th century, starting the artisanal production of the famous Amaretti di Saronno
. The business was then continued by Carlo's offspring, brothers Paolo and Davide. The former moved to Monza
in the mid-19th century, starting the production of mostarda
and liqueur
s. The latter, Davide, went on making the Amaretti, locating the business in Saronno in front of the cathedral, at that time served by horse transport. With the advent of the rail transport
, Luigi Lazzaroni (son of Davide) joined the company and in 1888 the partners founded D. Lazzaroni & C., intended as both a new legal entity and a new manufacturing facility.
In the following years the company enjoyed great success, making 350 different types of biscuits and exporting its products all over the world; this ambition was well delivered by the brand logo, representing a steam boat. In this period that biscuits such as Oswego, Nutritivo, Croccale and Germovita made their debut on the marketplace
.
The strength of the Lazzaroni brand drew the attention of the American multinational company Campbell's
, which acquired the firm from the Lazzaroni family in 1984 in order to pursue an ambitious internationalization
strategy. However, Campbell's plans failed and in 1991 the Italian firm Citterio, renowned producer of ham
, salami
and fresh pasta
, managed to move the company ownership back to Italy.
In 2008 the company was acquired by the Ragosta Group.
of Milan
and the Colomba Pasquale
. In 2010 the company introduced a gluten-free product range.
, published in 2010, Inspector Montalbano
receives an anonymous parcel containing a Lazzaroni litographed box with the words "Fornitori della Real Casa" (literally "Suppliers of the Royal House") on it, a title formerly awarded to manufacturers who became official suppliers for the House of Savoy
.
Always in 2010, a red tin box of Amaretti di Saronno appeared in a scene of the fantasy film
.Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1
Biscuit
A biscuit is a baked, edible, and commonly flour-based product. The term is used to apply to two distinctly different products in North America and the Commonwealth Nations....
s and bakery products manufactured by the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
company D. Lazzaroni & C. Spa.
Lazzaroni is a historical Italian brand and keeps on being highly regarded in the food industry
Food industry
The food production is a complex, global collective of diverse businesses that together supply much of the food energy consumed by the world population...
, namely thanks to products such as the Amaretti di Saronno
Amaretti di Saronno
Amaretti di Saronno refer to an amaretto macaroon that is traditional to Saronno, a comune of Lombardy, Italy. It is one of many types of traditional amaretto biscuits....
. D. Lazzaroni & C. Spa, being the first Italian company to transform biscuit manufacturing into an industrial process
Industrial process
Industrial processes are procedures involving chemical or mechanical steps to aid in the manufacture of an item or items, usually carried out on a very large scale. Industrial processes are the key components of heavy industry....
, has been marketing Lazzaroni branded biscuits and pastries since 1888, even though the beginnings date back to the early 18th century.
History
The Lazzaroni family, led by Carlo Lazzaroni, moved from ValtellinaValtellina
Valtellina or the Valtelline valley ; is a valley in the Lombardy region of northern Italy, bordering Switzerland. Today it is known for its skiing, its hot spring spas, its cheeses and its wines...
to Saronno
Saronno
Saronno is a comune of Lombardy, Italy, in the province of Varese. It received the honorary title of city with a presidential decree in 1960.The place is well known for its apricot kernel biscuits and is also a manufacturing town....
at the beginning of the 18th century, starting the artisanal production of the famous Amaretti di Saronno
Amaretti di Saronno
Amaretti di Saronno refer to an amaretto macaroon that is traditional to Saronno, a comune of Lombardy, Italy. It is one of many types of traditional amaretto biscuits....
. The business was then continued by Carlo's offspring, brothers Paolo and Davide. The former moved to Monza
Monza
Monza is a city and comune on the river Lambro, a tributary of the Po, in the Lombardy region of Italy some 15 km north-northeast of Milan. It is the capital of the Province of Monza and Brianza. It is best known for its Grand Prix motor racing circuit, the Autodromo Nazionale Monza.On June...
in the mid-19th century, starting the production of mostarda
Mostarda
Mostarda is an Italian condiment made of candied fruit and a mustard flavoured syrup. Commercially the essential oil of mustard is employed, which has the advantage of transparency; in home cooking mustard powder heated in white wine may be used.Traditionally mostarda was served with boiled meats,...
and liqueur
Liqueur
A liqueur is an alcoholic beverage that has been flavored with fruit, herbs, nuts, spices, flowers, or cream and bottled with added sugar. Liqueurs are typically quite sweet; they are usually not aged for long but may have resting periods during their production to allow flavors to marry.The...
s. The latter, Davide, went on making the Amaretti, locating the business in Saronno in front of the cathedral, at that time served by horse transport. With the advent of the rail transport
Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
, Luigi Lazzaroni (son of Davide) joined the company and in 1888 the partners founded D. Lazzaroni & C., intended as both a new legal entity and a new manufacturing facility.
In the following years the company enjoyed great success, making 350 different types of biscuits and exporting its products all over the world; this ambition was well delivered by the brand logo, representing a steam boat. In this period that biscuits such as Oswego, Nutritivo, Croccale and Germovita made their debut on the marketplace
Marketplace
A marketplace is the space, actual, virtual or metaphorical, in which a market operates. The term is also used in a trademark law context to denote the actual consumer environment, ie. the 'real world' in which products and services are provided and consumed.-Marketplaces and street markets:A...
.
The strength of the Lazzaroni brand drew the attention of the American multinational company Campbell's
Campbell Soup Company
Campbell Soup Company , also known as Campbell's, is an American producer of canned soups and related products. Campbell's products are sold in 120 countries around the world. It is headquartered in Camden, New Jersey...
, which acquired the firm from the Lazzaroni family in 1984 in order to pursue an ambitious internationalization
Internationalization
In economics, internationalization has been viewed as a process of increasing involvement of enterprises in international markets, although there is no agreed definition of internationalization or international entrepreneurship...
strategy. However, Campbell's plans failed and in 1991 the Italian firm Citterio, renowned producer of ham
Ham
Ham is a cut of meat from the thigh of the hind leg of certain animals, especiallypigs. Nearly all hams sold today are fully cooked or cured.-Etymology:...
, salami
Salami
Salami is cured sausage, fermented and air-dried meat, originating from one of a variety of animals. Historically, salami has been popular among Southern European peasants because it can be stored at room temperature for periods of up to 10 years, supplementing a possibly meager or inconsistent...
and fresh pasta
Pasta
Pasta is a staple food of traditional Italian cuisine, now of worldwide renown. It takes the form of unleavened dough, made in Italy, mostly of durum wheat , water and sometimes eggs. Pasta comes in a variety of different shapes that serve for both decoration and to act as a carrier for the...
, managed to move the company ownership back to Italy.
In 2008 the company was acquired by the Ragosta Group.
Products
Lazzaroni's array of products includes, other than the traditional bakery products and the "original Amaretti di Saronno" (sold in the typical litography-decorated tin boxes), also a wide offering of breakfast biscuits and cookies ("frollini"), pastries and pastry assortments. During the holiday periods Lazzaroni also sells the traditional panettonePanettone
thumb|200px|right|A non-traditionally shaped panettone loaf.Panettone is a type of sweet bread loaf originally from Milan , usually prepared and enjoyed for Christmas and New Year in Italy, Malta, Brazil, Germany and Switzerland, and is one of the symbols of the city of Milan. Maltese nationals are...
of Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
and the Colomba Pasquale
Colomba Pasquale
Colomba Pasquale or Colomba di Pasqua is an Easter counterpart of the two well-known Italian Christmas desserts, panettone and pandoro....
. In 2010 the company introduced a gluten-free product range.
Cultural references
In the novel La caccia al tesoro by Andrea CamilleriAndrea Camilleri
Andrea Camilleri is an Italian writer.-Biography:Originally from Porto Empedocle, Sicily, Camilleri, began studies at the Faculty of Literature in 1944, without concluding them, meanwhile publishing poems and short stories.From 1948 to 1950 Camilleri studied stage and film direction at the Silvio...
, published in 2010, Inspector Montalbano
Inspector Montalbano
Inspector Salvo Montalbano is a fictional character created by Italian writer Andrea Camilleri in a series of novels and short stories.Set in the picturesque Sicilian town of Vigàta , the fractious detective's character and manner encapsulate much of Sicilian mythology and astute detective work...
receives an anonymous parcel containing a Lazzaroni litographed box with the words "Fornitori della Real Casa" (literally "Suppliers of the Royal House") on it, a title formerly awarded to manufacturers who became official suppliers for the House of Savoy
House of Savoy
The House of Savoy was formed in the early 11th century in the historical Savoy region. Through gradual expansion, it grew from ruling a small county in that region to eventually rule the Kingdom of Italy from 1861 until the end of World War II, king of Croatia and King of Armenia...
.
Always in 2010, a red tin box of Amaretti di Saronno appeared in a scene of the fantasy film
Fantasy film
Fantasy films are films with fantastic themes, usually involving magic, supernatural events, make-believe creatures, or exotic fantasy worlds. The genre is considered to be distinct from science fiction film and horror film, although the genres do overlap...
.Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1