About Mutti

A long love story

Our mission as a company is to raise the tomato to its highest expression. This passion has driven us for 120 years. Even today we are still learning new things about this wonderful fruit and constantly improving every aspect of its production to make the best tomato products we possibly can.

Everything began with…

1850

A true pioneer

Giovanni Mutti (1805–1894) was a farmer ahead of his time in his use of the sidereal system, which is also these days used in organic farming. It takes into account the influence of the sun and the moon on plant cultivation. After many experiments, Giovanni managed to innovate by applying the crop rotation technique. This allowed the soil to recover its nutrients while cutting down the need for natural and chemical fertilizers. Crop rotation is an essential practice in farming even today, demonstrating that old rural traditions are still the secret behind the best tomatoes.

historien om mutti

1899

The adventure begins

Giovanni’s nephews, brothers Marcellino (1862–1941) and Callisto Mutti (1870–1936), founded the Fratelli Mutti company as the family’s farming tradition began shifting towards manufacturing. At this point, the tomatoes were still processed using artisanal methods.

historien om mutti

1907

Our land

From tenant farmers to large landowners: land is the origin of everything.

Once they had acquired the estate called “Corte” in Piazza di Basilicanova, the Mutti brothers, Marcellino and Callisto, embarked on important reclamation works and applied modern and efficient crop-growing techniques, significantly increasing their crop yields. Alongside their cultivation of tomatoes, they also got involved in zootechnics (livestock farming) and cheese-making (Parmigiano), introducing techniques which were really innovative for the time. The bond between land and industry was formed and ready to bear fruit.

mutti products

1909

An industry is formed

Marcellino’s son Ugo Mutti (1893–1980) designed a process that would transform the family’s farming business. He suggested to his father they should create a small factory to produce tomato extract using the newly fine-tuned sous-vide cooking technique, which involves vacuum-sealing food and cooking it in a temperature-controlled water bath. The result was a canned tomato extract product sold under the Mutti brand name, called “conserva nera” – a forerunner of modern tomato concentrate.

historien om mutti

1911

The two lions

The same year as the important international exhibition organized to celebrate 50 years of Italian unity, Marcellino Mutti registered the young company’s brand, which even today features two lions protecting the first quality award won by the brand. As illiteracy was then widespread in Italy, it was essential for food companies to make their products stand out with strong and simple images. The Mutti family knew they had a hit on their hands as housewives increasingly asked for “the concentrate with the two lions.”

gammelt tomatekstrakt

1914t

The Great Cross (Gran Croce) award

Mutti’s reputation as a producer of high quality products grew, and it began to win various prestigious awards. In 1914 Mutti won the Gran Croce award, which was accompanied by an entry in the pages of the Italy’s Golden Book of Labor Awards. Mutti tomato extract was recognized as one of the symbols of Italian gastronomic excellence. Since then, Mutti has won countless accolades for the quality of its products.

gammelt tomatekstrakt

1922

The double concentrate

Tomato concentrate has come a long way from its humble origins. Originally, concentrate was cooked in large saucepans for hours and then dried in the sun. After the invention of sous-vide cooking the concentrate was soon followed by a double concentrate and – from 1938 on – a triple concentrate. Likewise, packaging saw significant changes as large boxes were replaced with small packs for domestic consumption. The new products enjoyed massive success as people could now enjoy their favorite tomato dishes all year round. It was because of this product that Mutti first arrived in Italian kitchens.

gammelt tomatekstrakt

1927

The interwar expansion

Italy suffered a severe economic downturn during the interwar period, which hit many of the preserved food companies in the Parma province. Mutti, however, managed to maintain its business, and even chose to acquire the local companies which were struggling the most. By saving these companies and ensuring their employees kept their jobs, Mutti was able to help the struggling region. As the Second World War began, this expansion was again put on hold.

gammel mutti-fabrikk

1951

The thimble tube

These days food sold in aluminum tubes is hardly surprising, but not many people know that the idea actually originated with Mutti. This revolutionary idea was presented by Ugo during a family meeting. Once people overcame their initial surprise, they were won over by the practicality of the tube. The added benefit was that because the concentrate had only minimal contact with air, it had a longer conservation date. What’s more, the cap worked as a useful thimble for housewives. The legendary thimble tube was born.

gammelt tomatekstrakt

1961

Food for the changing society

The social changes and the economic boom of the 1960s in Italy also meant new requirements for packaged food products. Since women now joined the workforce, the products had to be more practical so that good food and healthy eating habits were still possible, even with less time spent in the kitchen. Mutti anticipated these changes and launched new products like their Verdurine Condidoro sauce. The innovative new packaging – and tastes – highlighted the two lion brand as a pioneer of the emerging modern food world.

verdurin mutti

1971

Polpa

As the 1970s arrived Ugo Mutti set himself an ambitious goal of creating a fresh product with a lower liquid content than peeled tomatoes. With the then-innovative cold-processing method and several tries, Mutti’s legendary finely chopped tomato product was created. Polpa is even today Mutti’s single most important product – and is loved by millions of people around the world for its fresh taste and quality.

eldgammel boks med tomat

1986

Bottled tomatoes

As soon as it was technologically feasible, Mutti started to use glass to showcase their products’ color and consistency to reassure our customers about the high quality of the contents. A range of bottled Polpa was born. This was a continuation of the impact Marcello Mutti had on the company since 1965. His contribution was critical for Mutti’s expansion in the Italian market.

mutti flasker med tomater

1994

The new generation

Francesco Mutti became the company’s CEO, and continued the family tradition of innovation by implementing new ideas on how to express the full potential of the tomato. Under Francesco, the company went through a transformation, with a new research and development unit created. While other tomato brands were only competing with price, Mutti started investing in quality and building a brand on the trust that the rising quality earned among consumers. By paying more to the farmers and starting a program of constant improvement, the Mutti brand became globally known as the provider of the best, authentic Italian tomatoes.

historien om mutti

1999

Certifications

The Mutti philosophy of using nothing but tomatoes resulted in receiving a respected Integrated Production Certification by the auditing agency Check Fruit. The first time this has happened in our product category. This was a distinction given for the incomparable taste of Mutti’s tomatoes, the quality of their procedures, and the company’s respect for the environment. Two years later, in 2001, Mutti production was certified as GMO-free.

polpa finhakkede tomater

2000

The Pomodorino D´Oro quality award

Mutti believes in paying more for a better quality product. To encourage the farmers to keep improving every step of the production, Francesco Mutti decided to present an award for the farmers who achieved the best results in their tomato fields, producing fruit with excellent sensory and nutritional characteristics. The Pomodorino d`Oro quality award was established as a celebration of the bond between humans and nature and a testament to our constant quest for improvements. Getting better at what we do benefits us, the farmers, our community and our consumers.

pomodorino d'oro

2004

Tomato Vinegar

Tomato vinegar was born from Mutti’s century-old experience, an exclusive, simple and unique recipe. Its savory taste, free of harshness often characteristic of wine vinegar, makes it the guarantor of subtle dishes.

tomateddik

2007

The first ready-to-serve Mutti sauces

Innovation with tomatoes under the spotlight. Sauces which offer countless variations for your recipes.

An unmistakable passion for tomatoes and the will for research and innovation are skillfully blended in our Ready-to-serve Sauces. In these recipes, Mutti offers tomatoes that are peeled and processed when fresh with the addition of a drop of concentrated tomato paste to enhance the flavor. Then, these ingredients are blended with the best raw materials to create four tasty culinary proposals… All worth trying!

types of tomato sauce

2010

Working with WWF to measure our footprints

A large quality producer like Mutti seeks environmental harmony, synonymous with sustainability.

In collaboration with the WWF, Mutti has started research and analysis work on the impact that the tomato processing cycle has on energy and water consumption. The World Wildlife Fund turned out to be an important ally in our in-depth study of all production phases and to discover what in-house actions can be taken in order to reduce the consumption of energy and our most important asset: water. We immediately understood that the impact on water resources could be reduced by improving the processes in our production facility, and especially where water is used the most: in the fields. We then started a dialog process with farmers to find out what could be done to improve the cycle in terms of quality and respect for the environment. Today, we can say that the Mutti community, the community of farmers and WWF experts is more solid than ever in combating waste and seeking quality.

tomater lander

2012

Datterini sauce brings new ideas to the kitchen

Mutti wants to fulfill the needs of consumers, who are looking for something more or new ways to use tomatoes in their cooking, by offering new products made from different tomato varieties.

For example Mutti’s Datterini (or Baby Roma) Sauce is made using the finest Datterini tomatoes, which provide a perfect natural sweetness to any dish they are used for.

datterini tomater

2013

The Fiordagosto factory opens

The Alta Valle del Sele is a unique valley in Southern Italy where tomatoes are a part of practically every meal. At its new state-of-the-art factory in Fiordagosto, Mutti has brought all its know-how and experience to showcase the tomatoes which are integral to this part of the country.

tomatoes land valle del sele

2016

The launch of the organic product range

Our BIO, or organic products, follow the same high quality requirements as all other Mutti products, but with one difference: these tomatoes are grown fully organically, without pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Our organic tomatoes are as close to nature as a field of tomatoes can get.

mutti produkter

2019

The Mutti pesto

Our newest product innovation is a range of tomato pesto sauces. They have the intense, delicious taste, but are made using 45 % less fat than the ordinary pesto sauce.

pesto mutti

Still passionate as ever

Our company today

We are committed to creating the best possible tomato products for our customers. Our headquarters are located in Parma, Italy, where our company was founded 120 years ago. In the future, we will keep on sharing our love for tomato flavors, innovation, and sustainability with millions of new fans.

For people who are looking for…

the best, most authentic Italian tomato.

Our way of doing things

Mutti´s passion for tomatoes is based on three watchwords: quality, transparency, and reliability.

“To work well means doing it with dedication, consistency, and intelligence – and also with a lot of passion and honesty.”

Francesco Mutti

CEO of Mutti S.p.A

Sustainability

For us, sustainability means respect for the land

Cooperation with WWF Italy

Mutti has worked closely with the WWF in Italy to help farmers find sustainable ways to reduce their water consumption and CO2 emissions. The Italian WWF not only set goals, but it also allowed farmers to analyze and review data to identify what they can do. For example, the organization recommended the use of special sensors that recognize the moisture content of the soil and provide useful information to support efficient water use.

Mutti invested in technology, education, and technical support for farmers and agricultural organizations. Even after our five-year project came to an end, we are still as committed as ever to minimizing our environmental impact and improving every step of our production.

Results:

+1000 million litres of water saved*

*between 2012 and 2014 (Source: Data Collected by CMCC, WWF and Mediterranean Climate Change Center in Italy)

+31530 tons of CO2 (carbon dioxide) avoided.

*between 2010 and 2015 when compared to 2009 levels (Source: Data collected by Italian WWF and energy efficiency group Officinae Verd)

Pomodorino d´Oro

Mutti awards quality


In 2000, we created the Pomodorino d’Oro award (Golden Tomato): each year we give a money prize to our best farmers for the quality of the product they grow. 

A virtuous cycle which focuses on care, quality and taste.

Where do great tomatoes come from?

The story of our tomatoes begins in the fields of Italy. Each soil type and tomato variety has its own unique characteristics. Every step of the process – from the farm to the table – affects the taste.

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