That of F. Divella Spa is a story that certainly deserves to be told. Recently, the famous Italian company received the title of Historic Brand of National Interest from the Ministry of Economic Development. This is a special recognition for one of the most important pasta companies in Italy.
DIVELLA’S HISTORY
To trace the beginnings of Divella’s history we have to go all the way back to 1890, when Francesco Divella built the first mill in Rutigliano, in the province of Bari. But it was only in the 1910s and 1920s that pasta production actually began.
Despite the looming Second World War – with the consequent difficulties – in the 1940s the company began to record its first increases in production, and in the postwar period it was able to really establish solid foundations for its future development.
But the real boom – due to the enormous increase in pasta consumption nationwide – came in the 1970s when the second generation was joined by the third, which then took over full commercial control of the company during the following decade.
This growth led to the inauguration – in January 1989 – of the new plant in the industrial area of Rutigliano which was then expanded several times over the following years, also adding new production lines.
DIVELLA IN NUMBERS
Today, under the leadership of Vincenzo and Francesco Divella, the founding family’s third generation, and thanks to the work of more than 320 employees, Divella is a national benchmark in pasta production and is constantly expanding in the global market. The numbers speak for themselves: the mills grind 1,200 tons of durum wheat and 400 tons of soft wheat daily, while the pasta factory produces about 1,000 tons of dry pasta and 35 tons of fresh pasta every day.
Francesco Divella, the company’s Marketing Manager and exponent of the fourth generation, comments, “This important recognition stimulates us to continue along the path we started out on back in 1890: it is the result of close-knit teamwork, bringing the values of our company and our Mediterranean passion to the whole world.”