Since 1927
FAMILY OWNED | Customer Focused
A Legacy of Flavor
A Future of Innovation
Proudly based in Chicago, our story began in 1927 with a simple mission: to share the flavors and traditions of our Italian heritage with homes and restaurants across America.
Five generations later, that mission remains at the heart of everything we do.
“We're deeply proud of the expertise passed down through the family over the years. We remain solely dedicated to creating products that help chefs elevate their dishes, staying true to the traditions that have defined us for over a century.”
- The Pastorelli Family
Gangi Brothers: Santa Clara, CA (circa 1945)
Rooted in Tradition
Driven by Innovation
While we honor the recipes and practices that passed through generations, we’re always looking ahead. Whether it’s pioneering the first fully-prepared canned pizza sauce in the 1950s or offering modern packaging like shelf-stable pouches for greater convenience and sustainability, we are constantly innovating to meet the needs of today’s kitchens – big or small.
Our capabilities include custom sauce formulation, a wide range of packaging options, and rapid delivery, all designed to serve foodservice operators, retailers, and private label customers with unmatched care and flexibility.
Relationships that Last
We believe the best food is made not just with great ingredients, but with great relationships.
Over the decades, we’ve built long-standing partnerships with tomato growers, olive oil producers, and ingredient suppliers; people we trust to deliver the same quality we promise our customers.
But the relationships we’re most proud of are with our customers themselves. Whether you’re a family making pizza at home, a local restaurant perfecting your menu, or a national chain creating a custom flavor profile, we’re here to support your culinary success.
Our customers aren’t just clients; they’re part of our extended family.
our ongoing committment
From field to fork, every decision we make reflects our commitment to excellence.
We choose only the finest ingredients, like vine-ripened tomatoes from California’s San Joaquin Valley, garlic from Gilroy, and oregano from Greece, and we process them in state-of-the-art, FDA-inspected facilities with global food safety certifications.
Our authenticity is what makes Pastorelli different. When working with us or using our products, you’re connecting with a family-owned business that listens, cares and delivers.
Pastorelli, Then and Now
From our beginnings in a small post office in Lucoli, Italy, to becoming the No. 1 selling pizza sauce in Chicago for 74 consecutive years, the Pastorelli story is one of resilience, evolution, and heart.
1870
LaQuallia Family
Local Postmaster Amadeo Pastorelli began distributing food products to and from his post office in Lucoli, Italy, near the foothills of the Apennine Mountains.
1913
Ticket to America
Benedetto Pastorelli, Amedeo’s son, takes his food manufacturing and distribution experience that he learned from his father to America.
1919 - 1924
Matmore Olive Company
The Pastorelli family moves to California where they become partners in Contadina Canning and help establish the first North American olive-crushing plant, Matmore Olive Oil Company in Lindsey, CA.
1927
Chicago Macaroni Company
Benedetto and his wife Aurora head to Chicago, where they helped establish Chicago Macaroni Company, and Garibaldi Import/Export Company, which later became Pastorelli Food Products.
1931 - 1947
Gangi Packing
Benedetto’s son Leandro joins his father in Chicago, where they set up a food co-op. Leandro helps finance Gangi Packing in Santa Clara, CA and gains exclusive distribution rights for its tomato products, west of the Mississippi River.
1952
Pizza Sauce
Leandro Pastorelli, with the help of his sister Mary DiStefano and his brother Mario, formulated the first fully-prepared pizza sauce offered in a can. Pastorelli’s Italian Chef Pizza Sauce offered a convenient substitute for homemade sauce to a growing number of working women.
1960's
Real Italian Chef
Pastorelli’s pizza kit grows in popularity before the days of frozen pizza.
1971
Lake Street
Pastorelli Food Products moves into the plant at 901 W Lake St. where they begin bottling and labeling oils and vinegars for restaurants.
1979
Gold Medal Sauce
Pastorelli’s Italian Chef Pizza Sauce wins a Gold Medal at the Monde Selection in Vienna and in Rome the following year.
1992
Next Generation
After working part-time in the company during his teens, Richard Pastorelli joins the company sales department after graduation from college.
2005
Regina Brand Revitalized
Pastorelli brings back the Regina brand, and began offering custom formulated sauces.
2005 - 2020
Custom Formulation
Pastorelli expands and automates its bottling lines, begins making custom formulated sauces for
multi-unit operations, and enters the private label business for sauces, oils, and vinegar.
2010
Pastorelli Becomes SQF Certified
Pastorelli products officially became SQF certified.
2025
Chicago's Favorite Sauce
Pastorelli Pizza Sauce is the No. 1 selling pizza sauce in Chicago for the 75th year in a row.