Cirio

{{Short description|Italian food company}} {{For2|the plant|cirio tree|people with the name ''Cirio''|Cirio (surname)}} {{Infobox company | name = Cirio S.p.A. | logo = Cirio 1856 Logo.svg | type = Subsidiary (S.p.A.) | genre = | foundation = {{start date and age|1856|p=1}} in Turin, Kingdom of Sardinia | founder = Francesco Cirio | location_city = Bologna | location_country = Italy | location = San Lazzaro di Savena | locations = | area_served = Worldwide | key_people = | industry = Italian food | products = | services = | revenue = | operating_income = | net_income = | assets = | equity = | owner = | num_employees = | parent = Conserve Italia | divisions = | subsid = | homepage = {{URL|www.cirio1856.com}} | footnotes = }} '''Cirio S.p.A.''' ({{IPA|it|ˈtʃiːrjo}}) is an Italian food company, founded in 1856 in Turin.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 May 2007 |title=La nostra storia |url=http://www.cirio.it/on/Home/150annidipassione/Lanostrastoria.html |access-date=9 September 2022 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070518185154/http://www.cirio.it/on/Home/150annidipassione/Lanostrastoria.html |archive-date=18 May 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The company sponsored SSC Napoli in 1982–83 and 1984–85 season and SS Lazio from 1996 to 2000.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 December 2013 |title=La Cirio dice addio alla Campania chiude anche l'ultima fabbrica |url=http://www.ilmattino.it/lastoria/la_cirio_dice_addio_alla_campania_chiude_anche_l_039_ultima_fabbrica/notizie/134425.shtml |access-date=9 September 2022 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203010328/http://www.ilmattino.it/lastoria/la_cirio_dice_addio_alla_campania_chiude_anche_l_039_ultima_fabbrica/notizie/134425.shtml |archive-date=3 December 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==History== ===Founding and early success (1856–1867)=== Cirio was established in 1856 by Francesco Cirio, who revolutionized food preservation with the technique of "appertization," which extended the shelf life of perishable products. This innovation allowed Cirio to export fruit and vegetables globally. The company's first factory opened in Turin, and by 1867, Cirio was showcasing its products at the Exposition Universelle in Paris, where he received prestigious awards. After this, he began exporting all over the world from Liverpool to Sidney.<ref name="Cirio1">{{cite web |url= https://www.cirio1856.com/group/history/ |title= Cirio1856 - Authentic italian tomatoes, fruit and vegetables |website= cirio1856.com |date=2024-09-06}}</ref><ref name="Cirio2">{{cite web |url=https://ciaogusto.com/families/item/cirio |title=Ciaogusto - Cirio Company |website= ciaogusto.com |date=2024-09-06}}</ref>

===Expansion and legacy (1868–1900)=== Following Italy's unification, Cirio expanded into southern Italy, revitalizing abandoned agricultural lands and establishing new production facilities. By the end of the 19th century, Cirio had grown into one of Italy's largest food companies, known for its canned vegetables, fruit, and tomato products. <ref name="Cirio1"></ref><ref name="Cirio2"></ref>

===Growth and diversification (1901–1970)=== The early 20th century saw Cirio's influence expand under Pietro Signorini, who succeeded Francesco Cirio and continued to build on his legacy. Signorini's efforts solidified Cirio's reputation as a leading food brand. The company was known for its wide range of products, including canned vegetables, meats, and pasta. In 1970, Cirio was sold to SME, and by 1993, it had been privatized. <ref name="Cirio1"></ref><ref name="Cirio2"></ref>

===Modern era and Conserve Italia (2004–present)=== In 2004, Cirio became part of the Conserve Italia Group, a major European agri-food cooperative. Conserve Italia, Cirio's parent company, is a major player in the European food industry, encompassing over 14,500 farmers and processing more than 650,000 tonnes of produce annually. <ref name="Cirio1"></ref><ref name="Cirio2"></ref>

==Products== Cirio offers a wide range of food products across several categories. {| class="wikitable"

!Tomatoes !Vegetables !Ready meals !Jams and marmelade

|- | |Gran mix | | |- | colspan="4" style="text-align: center;" | {{small|<ref>{{Cite web |title= Cirio1856 - Authentic italian tomatoes, fruit and vegetables |url= https://www.cirio1856.com/ |access-date=2024-09-06 |website=cirio1856.com }}</ref>}} |}

==See also== {{Portal|Agriculture|Food|Italy|Companies}} * List of Italian companies * Italian cuisine

==References== {{reflist}}

== External links == * {{Official website|http://www.cirio1856.com}} * [https://www.conserveitalia.it Conserve Italia]

Category:Food and drink companies of Italy Category:Companies based in Turin Category:Privately held companies of Italy Category:Food and drink companies established in 1856 Category:Italian companies established in 1856 Category:Italian brands