According to a deed signed by the Notary Ventresca, the Pelino company was founded in May 1783 in Introdacqua, a village near Sulmona, by Francesco Pelino’s son Berardino, who was born in 1750. The Pelino company was in turn inherited by Berardino’s son Panfilo, who was born in 1794, and it was he who expanded the firm’s thriving activities beyond the trade of almonds and into the production of ‘confetti’ and then also into liqueurs.

Panfilo’s son Francesco Paolo (born in 1833) is to be remembered for the expansion of the economic activities during the difficult period at the end of the process of the Unification of Italy. He was also responsible for initiating the first exports out of Italy.

Francesco Paolo’s son Alfonso (born in 1858) first moved the factory into the centre of Sulmona and then in 1890 built the new factory on the city’s outskirts. The building, that is still in use today has been declared a Monument of National Interest by the Ministry of Culture in 1922.

Mario Pelino (born in 1892) continued the work of his father Alfonso and in the early 1900’s he added the production of Citrate to the company’s activities, thus increasing both its national and international reputation.

In July 1973, control of the company passed jointly to Mario’s sons Alfonso and Olindo and thence in 2002 to Alfonso and Olindo’s sons, representing the 7th generation of Pelinos. During this latest period of the company’s growth, there has been investment in new technologies, taking into great consideration the environmental aspects of production towards an eco-factory vision.

Note that many of the deeds and documents relating to the founding of the Pelino company and its many phases of expansion and development are kept in the Municipal Archives of Sulmona and at the Chamber of Commerce in L’Aquila.

The Company

Since its founding in 1783, the Pelino Company has concentrated both on the quality of the product and the wellbeing of its customers. This means using only the best certified ingredients such as Avola almonds, Hazelnuts from Piedmont or Viterbo and Belgian chocolate so as to maintain the best possible taste. Quality also means using traditional production processes that preserve the integrity of the ingredients and ensure a total taste sensation.

The wellbeing of the customers means that the production processes are maintained in accordance with the most stringent health requirements. The Pelino Company guarantees that its traditional white ceremony confetti products are 100% free from animal fats and contain only almonds, sugar and vanilla. The chocolate confetti also contain cocoa butter fat derived from the cocoa berry.

All Pelino products are made following an ages old process without starch, gluten or malt-dextrin. They are therefore suitable for those with common intolerances and allergies including coeliac disease. Moreover, they are a good example of an integrated food as they contain a combination of protein, carbohydrate and unsaturated fat – all with a delicious taste.

Pelino also guarantees that all decorations used on the confectionery are also of the very highest quality.

Awards

The Pelino Company is proud to have been awarded 66 of the highest national and international awards and honours over the last few decades.

• 12 Gran Prix
• 36 gold medals
• Gold Mercury 1968
• Gold Hercules 1969
• International Business, New York 1979
• Gold Star in Honour of the artistic Work – S.E.A Chamber of Commerce, Rome 1981
• Gold Medal from the general confederation of handicraft (“for the uninterrupted bicentenary activity”), 1983
• Gold Plate “LES HENOKIENS”, Paris 1991
• Marisa Bellisario Prize, 1993
• Gold Taste Award, London 2012
• Premio D’Angiò, 2012

Certifications