Who We Are

THE DIFORTI TRADITION
FIVE GENERATIONS OF CRAFTING AUTHENTIC ITALIAN SPECIALTIES

1875

In 1875, our great-great-grandfather Michele began sourcing premium Nocellara olives from local farms near his hometown of Caltanissetta, Sicily. Using his innovative preservation techniques, he crafted sweet, crisp, and vibrant green olives that quickly became a local favourite. Demand grew and soon, Michele was selling his olives by the barrel across the island.

1909

By 1909, Michele's son Luigi joined the family business, bringing a wealth of expertise. Known in the village as “Fogli Amari”, a master of the culinary and medicinal uses of local herbs and plants, Luigi combined his knowledge of preservation with access to the abundant harvest from a noble estate. This allowed him to create a captivating selection of antipasti, which he successfully distributed throughout Sicily.

1939

In 1939, the Diforti name truly began to flourish when our grandfather, Salvatore Diforti, expanded the family business. He supplied high-quality antipasti to restaurants and shops while opening three delicatessens of his own in Strada Foglia, the historic food market in Caltanissetta. With his refined palate, Salvatore carefully curated the finest Italian ingredients for his shops and developed numerous signature recipes, including our cherished sundried tomato recipe, still used today.

1981

It was our father, Giuliano, who, in 1981, introduced the Diforti name to a broader audience. By incorporating innovative preservation techniques and ensuring every product was crafted with the highest-quality ingredients and perfectly balanced seasoning, he played an essential role in bringing authentic Italian cuisine to tables across Europe.

2005

For us, Carlo, Andrea, and Francesca, growing up in the Diforti family meant that some of our most cherished memories were centred around food and the people who lovingly crafted it. When we took over the family business in 2005, our mission was not only to preserve the heritage, expertise, and knowledge passed down by our forefathers but also to honour their creativity and passion by bringing fresh ideas to the Diforti brand.

2015

Since we have always been passionate about Italian food, in 2015 we made the decision to invest in a new range of products. We started with the launch of our very first pastry range, making a significant milestone in our journey. We began with one of the most beloved and iconic pastry from Sicily, the Cannoli, which originated from our hometown Caltanissetta. From our success with the Cannoli, we were inspired to develop and expand our pastry offerings. Due to our amazing success, we decided to invest and form a close and strong partnership with our pastry producers. This allowed us to have a much better control of the manufacturing and quality standards, as well as the new product development. Here is when Diforti Group was born!

Today

Today, we produce all our olives, antipasti, pesto, and tapenades in our state-of-the-art, BRCGS-accredited facility in Sicily, just a short distance from where it all began in 1875. Our 6,000m² site is fully covered and features temperature-controlled production areas, including a dedicated allergen-free area. Operated to the highest standards and equipped with the latest procedures and processes, the facility is highly adaptable. Despite its scale, we also specialise in crafting small, bespoke batches tailored to our customers’ labels and specifications.

Our Strategy

Our strategy has always been to maintain an artisan approach, ensuring a hands-on process remains at the heart of our production. This conscious decision keeps us closely connected to our heritage, which we believe is a cornerstone of our philosophy—not only for our own Diforti-branded products but also for the private-label products we create for our customers.

We strive to remain at the forefront of trends and innovation, ensuring that we offer our customers an authentic, artisan selection of Italian specialties that meet the demands of the modern market.

By supplying the finest examples of true Italian cuisine to customers worldwide, we take pride in continuing to share our family’s deep passion for exceptional food, a passion that has been at the core of our business for five generations.