Our History
10/2017
Calogero, The "Computer Technician"
In 2017, we brought an essential addition to our team: Calogero Lombardo. Initially, I referred to him as "the computer technician," but thanks to my daughter, I quickly discovered that his official title is IT Manager. Hailing from Sicily, Calogero quickly set himself apart with his tenacity and resolve, managing to fulfill computer infrastructure goals that once appeared unachievable. Over the years, he has revitalized our workplace, enhancing its modernity, dynamism, and safety. Additionally, he has thoughtfully guided individuals like me, who have often been somewhat resistant to new concepts and technologies. Calogero’s dedication is extraordinary. He is always ready to help anyone in need with rare speed and availability, often sacrificing time allocated to projects that are more challenging than the Help Desk's daily requests. I can’t measure his work with technical precision (I’m a wreck with technology!). Still, the speed at which we access crucial information today, the strength of the data, and the security that guarantees us every day make me think of one thing: Calogero is the right person in the right place. Thank you, Calogero, for being a fundamental pillar of our team and for your tireless commitment!
06/2018
Melvin D. Maddux, the enormous!
Today, I have to share a story that jumps a decade to 2018, when we met Melvin, a genuinely enormous man despite his stature. Melvin possessed many qualities, but the one I appreciated most was his incredible ability to connect people or companies in ways that could advance a shared mutual success story. We traveled to New York for the Summer Fancy Food Show with my wife, a couple of very good friends, my son Giuseppe and his family, and the export team; it was essentially a work "vacation." During the fair, we eagerly awaited an appointment with Melvin. The wait was excruciating. Busy-Man-Melvin was always busy, postponing our meeting day after day, often to the end of the day. By the last day, Giuseppe was feeling despondent; it seemed our opportunity had slipped away. After the show concluded, we piled into an Uber van to head back to the hotel when Giuseppe suddenly received a message from Melvin: “Come see me, at my booth.” Yes, he had put us to the test! As I got to know him better over the years, I became convinced he wanted to see our commitment to this new business. He was assessing our humbleness and whether we could set aside personal pride to focus on building a meaningful business relationship. Without his jacket and tie, Giuseppe immediately hopped out of the Uber and joined Melvin at the show. This began a significant relationship for our company with Gourmet Foods International and a beautiful, sincere friendship for our family with him. Melvin was unique, empathetic, stubborn, determined, intelligent, visionary, honest, exemplary, demanding, and uncompromising. He was always humble, polite, and attentive to everyone, from CEOs to workers. He always had a thoughtful and encouraging word for each of us. I speak in the past tense because, sadly, on October 24, 2024, Melvin departed. He left a vast and unfillable nothingness in our lives and hearts. I wanted to share this story because he would have appreciated reading it on LinkedIn. He never missed an opportunity to narrate this tale whenever he introduced Ficacci to a new vendor approaching him. He used it as an example of patience, unpretentiousness, and a cautionary tale for those who were too hurried with over-expectations. He was a valuable and stimulating partner for our company, a sincere friend to our entire family, and an extraordinary mentor to my son Giuseppe, further than a big friend. I want to conclude with Melvin's saying, which I have always held dear and which has guided all his business relationships: "You can find the most cutting-edge company in the world with the best innovative product, but if there isn’t a strong relationship with responsive individuals capable of adapting to market demands, the projects will always fail." We will miss you, Melvin.
09/2018
Matteo: An Example of Growth and Dedication
Matteo joined the company in 2018 as a motivated young man eager to learn and embrace new challenges. He was assigned to the expanding raw materials warehouse department, where he quickly showcased his drive and abilities. Cheerful, proactive, and always ready to assist others, Matteo became a highly skilled resource and an excellent trainer for new employees. His rapid advancement within the department reflects his dedication and expertise. Congratulations, Foschi – our company truly needs valuable individuals like you!
11/2018
The Doypack Bags
In 2018, we decided to relaunch a line I am particularly attached to: the Doypack bags, which were born in 1990. This project has always been close to my heart because it revolutionized the way of displaying olives: transparent, flexible, and vertical packaging, distinguished from the classic cushion bags, usually exposed horizontally for lack of structure. We restyled the line, choosing a modern, international name: "Take Eat". Thanks to the practical grammage and the convenient zip, this name recalls consumption "on the go." The line offers six references, all without brine. They are packaged in a protected atmosphere to ensure freshness and authenticity. In keeping with our obsession with freshness, the products are also unpasteurized. doypacks.ficacci.com.
03/2019
Deli-Pack: a new chapter for international growth.
In 2019, we expanded to the USA, where olives belong to the Antipasti category. We revolutionized our offer by combining olives, vegetable appetizers, and spreads into a unique, irresistible line. We have innovated the packaging of olivefresche.ficacci.com, reducing the size from 250 to 150 grams to make them even more practical and suitable for modern consumption. The strengths? They are fresh and unpasteurized, without brine or preservatives. We selected eight Italian vegetable specialties to enrich the proposal and created three spreads, including our exclusive Muffuletta. This American recipe, revisited in an Italian key discovered in New Orleans, is the perfect mix of olives and vegetables. Today, the Deli-Pack range is synonymous with quality and innovation. It is increasingly distributed in Italy and abroad and ranks among the most popular lines in our assortment. 🌐 delipack.ficacci.com (World) 🌐 freshpack.ficacci.com (USA)
08/2019
Enthusiasm, and teamwork: the story of Stefano.
In the summer of 2019, we welcomed Stefano Melchiorre to our accounting team. Although his background was not in accounting, Stefano approached the new challenge with passion and determination. From the very beginning, he consistently delivered results by collaborating effectively with the team. Over time he expanded his expertise including new functions in environmental safety management and procurement.Stefano is known for his ability to spread positive energy and create a friendly atmosphere among his colleagues, fostering a serene and collaborative work environment. Bravo, Stefano! Keep up the great work!
10/2020
Olives served in paper cups...
A single year cannot adequately capture the rich narrative of 60 years filled with passion, innovation, and growth. Our journey is ongoing, adding to a legacy that has garnered your appreciation and instilled pride in us. We are embarking on a new chapter in 2020. This year has allowed us to innovate our packaging with a clear focus on sustainability and practicality despite the pandemic's challenges. Our first eco-friendly project involved paper cups, an inventive approach to packaging olives primarily from paper. However, despite our initial excitement, we realized that technical aspects related to the product meant this solution wasn't ideal for our requirements. This experience enabled us to redirect our R&D efforts towards other sustainable formats. Consequently, the paper tray—papertray.ficacci.com—emerged, a concept that has turned out to be a resounding success and will be explored further. Returning to the paper cups, it's important to highlight that while they are no longer part of our offerings, a new version had a substantial impact: Despar Italia enthusiastically selected it for their private label Premium. We take pride in this success, demonstrating that each phase of our innovation journey— even those that guide us in new directions—can create a positive influence. Our commitment to sustainability remains our core mission. We persist in seeking innovative solutions to address the market's evolving needs.
05/2021
Ficacci Shipping Deck
A decade ago, space in our factory felt like a luxury—almost too much. However, this "luxury" became a challenge as our business expanded rapidly, leading to a shortage of space. Concurrently handling loads for domestic and international markets resulted in daily logistical congestion, testing our operational efficiency. In 2021, we took a pivotal step for the future by acquiring a new facility specifically for finished product storage and shipping. This crucial investment encompassed 4,000 square meters for our logistics department, four loading doors, two cold storage rooms to ensure product quality, and over 7,000 pallet spaces. Since that year, the journey that began in the oven below my parents' house evolved into a streamlined and organized system with three perfectly integrated plants: one for raw materials, one for production, and another for storage and shipping. This growth exemplifies our commitment and unwavering focus on the future.
05/2021
The Olive paper tray
In 2021, our marketing research and development team dedicated their efforts to finding a sustainable solution that aligned with our initiative of introducing paper cups at TuttoFood in Milan. Through our partnership with Mondini from Brescia, we had the opportunity to meet Nicolò Bernucci. We expressed our concerns regarding the sustainable packaging we were testing, and Nicolò validated our apprehensions by presenting us with an intriguing paper tray. We could immediately envision our olives beautifully showcased on this attractively designed, generously sized plate, which enhanced the product’s appeal and made for a lovely table display. Upon returning to the company, we quickly began testing and sampling. By the autumn Anuga fair, we were ready to start taking orders for Christmas deliveries. The paper tray captivated every buyer who handled it, quickly becoming a crucial part of our product line. The strength of papertray.ficacci.com lies in its packaging, which exceeds 85% paper content. It is utterly recyclable as paper. Currently, the paper plate is distributed in Italy and available in several countries worldwide, including the United States, Mexico, Brazil, South Africa, Iceland, and England.