The Pastorelli Story
The Pastorelli family’s impact on the food industry dates back to the mid-19th century Italy, when Amedeo Pastorelli started a food distribution business outside of Rome. Five generations later, in the heart of downtown Chicago, Pastorelli Food Products, Inc. continues the family legacy of innovation in the food business. Take a look at the timeline below to learn more about how the company got to where it is today.
1870
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
Benedetto Pastorelli, Amedeo’s son, takes his food manufacturing and distribution experience that he learned from his father to America.
1919-1924
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
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
Benedetto’s son Leandro joins his father in Chicago, where they set up a food co-op in the West Loop.
1946-1947
Leandro Pastorelli helps finance Gangi Packing in Santa Clara, CA and gains exclusive distribution rights West of the Mississippi.
1952
After WWII, where many women left the home to go to work, fewer women had hours in the kitchen to spend making homemade sauce, so Leandro Pastorelli, with the help of his sister Mary DiStefano and his brother Mario, formulated the Italian Chef Pizza sauce, the first fully-prepared Pizza Sauce offered in a can.
1960's
Pastorelli’s pizza kit grows in popularity before the days of frozen pizza.
1971
Pastorelli moves into the plant at 901 W Lake St. where they begin bottling and labeling oils and vinegars for restaurants.
1979
The Italian Chef Pizza Sauce wins its first Gold Medal at the Monde Selection in Vienna, (and subsequently at Rome the year following).
2005-2007
The company expands and improves automated efficiencies on its bottling lines.
2018
Pastorelli continues to improve product quality standards, and receives the Non-GMO Project certification on the Italian Chef Pizza Sauce.
1870
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
Benedetto Pastorelli, Amedeo’s son, takes his food manufacturing and distribution experience that he learned from his father to America.
1919-1924
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
Benedetto and his wife Aurora head to Chicago, where they establish help Chicago Macaroni Company, and Garibaldi Import/Export Company, which later became Pastorelli Food Products.
1931
Benedetto’s son Leandro joins his father in Chicago, where they set up a food co-op in the West Loop.
1946-1947
Leandro Pastorelli helps finance Gangi Packing in Santa Clara, CA and gains exclusive distribution rights West of the Mississippi.
1952
After WWII, where many women left the home to go to work, fewer women had hours in the kitchen to spend making homemade sauce, so Leandro Pastorelli, with the help of his sister Mary DiStefano and his brother Mario, formulated the Italian Chef Pizza sauce, the first fully-prepared Pizza Sauce offered in a can.
1960s
Pastorelli’s pizza kit grows in popularity before the days of frozen pizza.
1971
Pastorelli moves into the plant at 901 W Lake St. where they begin bottling and labeling oils and vinegars for restaurants.
1979
The Italian Chef Pizza Sauce wins its first Gold Medal at the Monde Selection in Vienna, (and subsequently at Rome the year following).
2005-2007
The company expands and improves automated efficiencies on its bottling line.
2018
Pastorelli continues to improve product quality standards, and receives the Non-GMO Project certification on the Italian Chef Pizza Sauce.