Villani
THE HISTORY OF VILLANI
1886
The company was founded in 1886 in a small village in Castelnuovo Rangone, on the outskirts of the city of Modena.
Costante Villani and Ernesta Cavazzuti, with their entrepreneurial spirit, establish the company: they buy a small building in the city center, where they began the maturation of cured meats and the production of mortadella and “cotti” (cooked) products.
1920
The reins of the company are taken over by the second generation of the family with Costante Villani’s son.
Giuseppe Villani and his wife Irma Zironi continue his father’s work with a special innovative spirit: he travels to America to see local companies and upon returning, installs an aerial railway system for meat transportation. A revolution for the entire industry.
1930-1940
The company’s workforce consists of 270 people. Since then, Villani has offered its heritage to the world in terms of taste and has conquered the entire world.
1950-1960
Industrialization, management costs, and competition increased, but the support and cooperation relationship that “Commendator Peppino” created with the workers made the company strong. Moreover, thanks to him, Villani recovered and exploited cured meats from various regions of Italy, enriching the production of local specialties recognized for their quality and exported worldwide.
1970-1990
Following in his grandfather’s footsteps, Giuseppe Villani takes over the company with a new vision.
Production units are established, each following the production tradition of the respective region.
– Castelnuovo Rangone: Cured meats, hams, and local specialties of the Emilia-Romagna region.
– Bentivoglio, Bologna: Mortadella.
– Castelfranco Emilia: Coppe και Pancette
– S. Daniele del Friuli: San Daniele hams.
– Pastorello di Langhirano: Parma hams.
2000
Villani becomes a reference point in the charcuterie sector: today’s role and production scale have been achieved without ever betraying the philosophy of “handcrafted,” always renewing the relationship with regions and people. During this period, the company also sees further development in the foreign market. Its products are selected by the best stores and displayed in delicatessen and gourmet shops throughout Italy, Europe, and the world.
2010-2020
Respect for tradition and the drive towards the future, which has always inspired the company, has reached its maximum expression in recent years. Thus, alongside continuous investments in research and development, Villani finally sees one of its greatest projects realized: bringing the quality of sliced products directly to the table. With packaging that preserves their freshness untouched. The Affettati Villani range is a combination of craftsmanship and technology.
TODAY
New languages for an ancient story.
Their craftsmanship, experience, and quality find new forms of expression aligned with the evolution achieved over time.
Villani has now reached its 5th generation within the family, through 3 centuries of history, making it the oldest producer of cured meats in Emilia-Romagna and one of the longest – standing in Italy.
The people of Villani, passionate about their craft, are constantly engaged in perfecting their specialties, driven by the desire to surprise and conquer those who choose their products.
With their talent, sensitivity, and experience, they guide the entire process, respecting the product’s time and the cycles of nature.
They share a unified corporate culture and a common goal: a perfect product.
