Pastene Celebrates 150 Years of Bringing Friends and Family to the Table with Premium Ingredients

CANTON, MASSACHUSETTS (October 17, 2024) - Pastene, North America's oldest specialty company, proudly celebrates its 150th anniversary and history: a remarkable journey from its humble beginnings selling fresh fruit in Boston’s Italian North End neighborhood to becoming a cherished household name throughout North America. 

The Pastene Story:

Pastene’s story starts with Luigi Pastene and his son, Pietro, Italian immigrants with entrepreneurial spirits who sold fresh fruit from a pushcart in the Italian section of Boston throughout the 1800s, navigating challenges like the Civil War with resilience.  

In 1874, 150 years ago this autumn, Pietro Pastene transformed the pushcart into Pastene & Co., opening the company’s first office on Fulton Street in Boston’s North End neighborhood.

Pietro and his sons expanded Pastene throughout the early 1900s, with offices in Connecticut, New York, Canada and Italy. 

Despite historical challenges, the company prevailed in the years to come, dodging German U-boats to keep U.S. supply lines open during World War I and surviving the Great Depression without missing a single payroll. 

Throughout the 20th century, Pastene continued to lead the specialty foods category with groundbreaking product innovations like creating “convenience” packaging sizes. In 1965, Pastene introduced their flagship Kitchen Ready© Tomatoes, fresh-packed tomatoes that set the industry standard and are now the secret ingredient in thousands of family sauces. 

Pastene now boasts a portfolio of nearly 150 specialty products, including D.O.P. certified San Marzano Tomatoes, 28 varieties of authentic Italian pastas, premium canned tomatoes, sauces, grated cheese, oil and vinegar, beans, breadcrumbs, condiments, fish products, rice, polenta, gourmet vegetables and peppers, as well as hard-to-find varieties of olives and artichokes. The brand’s iconic vibrant yellow packaging is instantly recognized on store shelves as a trusted purveyor of premium, quality ingredients. The company remains a private, family-owned business, led by the founders’ descendants – fifth-generation family members Mark and Chris Tosi, and headquartered in Massachusetts.

“My brother and I are incredibly proud to lead a company with loyal consumers who have been bringing our products into their kitchens for generations," said Mark Tosi, Co-Owner of Pastene. “While much has changed since 1874, our family’s unwavering dedication to quality, pride in our products, rich tradition and commitment to community have always remained at the forefront of our business and have become integral parts of the Pastene name.”

In September, Pastene kicked off its anniversary celebrations by sponsoring the San Gennaro Feast in Boston’s North End. The gastronomic three-day event honored Italian-American culture and culinary traditions while raising significant funds for The Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism. 

Additionally, Pastene is continuing celebrations throughout the month of October, National Pasta Month. To add to the excitement, a bill is being passed through the legislative process to officially recognize October 17 as Pastene Day in perpetuity.

Pastene’s future holds exciting growth and expansions into new marketplaces while continuing to innovate and set industry standards as it has for the past 150 years. Primarily sold in the Northeast, Pastene began its expansion into eight Southeastern states in 2023, selling its flagship canned tomato products at more than 1,300 Publix stores throughout the region. Later this year, Pastene will launch in 1,200 Kroger stores across 17 states throughout the Midwest, South & Southeastern United States, providing even more consumers access to its beloved products. Pastene continues to bring new items to shelves, most recently introducing Double Concentrated Tomato Paste, Sun-Dried Peppers and Sliced Marinated Mushrooms, with more to come. This exciting growth reflects Pastene's ongoing commitment to quality and innovation, ensuring the brand remains a household name for many more generations.

ABOUT PASTENE

Pastene is a legacy brand that has been bringing family and friends to the table with premium specialty foods for 150 years. The company started in 1848 when founder Luigi Pastene emigrated from Italy to the United States and started a modest pushcart operation in Boston, Massachusetts. His entrepreneurial spirit laid the foundation for what would become one of North America’s oldest family-run businesses. In 1874, Luigi’s son, Pietro, began importing Italian ingredients and products to Fulton Street in Boston’s historic Italian North End neighborhood, and Pastene & Co. was born. Now, 150 years later, Pastene continues to be known for its unrivaled quality and taste, carrying nearly 150 specialty products, including premium canned tomatoes, pasta, sauces, grated cheese, oil and vinegar, beans, breadcrumbs, condiments, fish products, rice, polenta, gourmet vegetables and peppers, as well as hard-to-find varieties of olives and artichokes. It remains a family-run business owned by brothers Mark and Christopher Tosi, fifth-generation family members of Pietro Pastene. More information can be found at Pastene.com and on Instagram and Facebook. 

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