A family story
From 1954 to the present day: retracing the milestones of the Togni Group's long entrepreneurial journey in a succession of events, important choices and achievements.
Serra San Quirico is a small town in the province of Ancona surrounded by greenery, which stands on the slopes of Mount Murano.
Luigi Togni was a local youth. In 1948, almost twenty, Luigi, just like most people his age, started on a journey of self-discovery, in search of both personal and career fulfilment. However, what made Luigi stand out from the others was his great ambition, strong determination and great foresight.
In fact, he soon realized that a small-town store in Serra San Quirico, which sold a bit of everything, held unexpressed potential, which he knew needed to be taken advantage of and valued.
Luigi Togni was a local youth. In 1948, almost twenty, Luigi, just like most people his age, started on a journey of self-discovery, in search of both personal and career fulfilment. However, what made Luigi stand out from the others was his great ambition, strong determination and great foresight.
In fact, he soon realized that a small-town store in Serra San Quirico, which sold a bit of everything, held unexpressed potential, which he knew needed to be taken advantage of and valued.
The company early history
The company early history
Dynamic and enthusiastic of the path taken, he often left Serra San Quirico in search of new clients and opportunities to further develop his business.
And this is how he learned about the start of sparkling wine making in the district of Cupramontana. This was a truly innovative, pioneering activity at that time, which Luigi saw as a business opportunity that could not be missed.
A game changing factor for the future, which he would face together with his parents Primo and Elisa and most of all Rita Centinari, his future life partner.
Rita was a resourceful and responsible young woman who lived in a small town near Serra San Quirico, who already ran a shop. Luigi felt she was the perfect person to have at his side and went on to marry her.
Soon after, the store gave way to a small building where the first sparkling wines began to be produced. Luigi now faced the brand-new world of sparkling wine production, made up of knowledge and skills that had yet to be learned.
Luckily, he met a winemaker from Piedmont who helped him by putting all his know-how and experience in the field at his disposal, thus simplifying and easing the way for him to go on and take the next leap.
Luigi, proud of the standard reached by his sparkling wines, looked beyond the Marche countryside. He first set his sights on the Romagna coast.
Thanks to Luigi's determination and the trust that, the Company managed to expand business beyond the Romagna coast over the years.
And this is how he learned about the start of sparkling wine making in the district of Cupramontana. This was a truly innovative, pioneering activity at that time, which Luigi saw as a business opportunity that could not be missed.
A game changing factor for the future, which he would face together with his parents Primo and Elisa and most of all Rita Centinari, his future life partner.
Rita was a resourceful and responsible young woman who lived in a small town near Serra San Quirico, who already ran a shop. Luigi felt she was the perfect person to have at his side and went on to marry her.
Soon after, the store gave way to a small building where the first sparkling wines began to be produced. Luigi now faced the brand-new world of sparkling wine production, made up of knowledge and skills that had yet to be learned.
Luckily, he met a winemaker from Piedmont who helped him by putting all his know-how and experience in the field at his disposal, thus simplifying and easing the way for him to go on and take the next leap.
Luigi, proud of the standard reached by his sparkling wines, looked beyond the Marche countryside. He first set his sights on the Romagna coast.
Thanks to Luigi's determination and the trust that, the Company managed to expand business beyond the Romagna coast over the years.
He started his first sparkling wine production in the 1950’s
In the 60’s the company entered into the world of Mineral Water
By the end of the 1960’s, the company was well established in the field of sparkling wine production, but soon it would further broaden its vision.
Luigi's intuition pushes him to enter the mineral water sector, therefore, Luigi began to market the “San Cassiano” mineral water. Later on, it was granted a mining concession for the exploitation of the spring.
The intuition behind this choice was as simple as it was essential: a ‘sinergy’ will be created between sparkling wines and water, which was essential to give continuity to the entire business.
Luigi's intuition pushes him to enter the mineral water sector, therefore, Luigi began to market the “San Cassiano” mineral water. Later on, it was granted a mining concession for the exploitation of the spring.
The intuition behind this choice was as simple as it was essential: a ‘sinergy’ will be created between sparkling wines and water, which was essential to give continuity to the entire business.
Deseasonalization
Deseasonalization
In San Cassiano, a small borough of Fabriano, Sylvestrine Benedictine monks from the Monastery of St. Sylvester Abbot, had just begun bottling water from an ancient spring that was highly cherished by local residents.
However, this activity presented many critical issues for them, and this brought them to consult Luigi, who already had the bottling skills and know-how acquired through sparkling wine production.
Ever more determined and forward-thinking, Luigi once again looked beyond and prepared the Company for a new and difficult challenge that had to be faced with trial stages, great commitment and, of course, the help of the entire family.
Therefore, Luigi began to market the “San Cassiano” mineral water. Later on, when the plant was up and running, it was granted a mining concession for the exploitation of the spring.
The intuition behind this choice was as simple as it was essential: while sparkling wine is a seasonal product with sales peaks during winter festivities, on the other hand, water could reach great results, especially in the summer.
In this way, the staff was employed full-time, as the company's business was distributed throughout the year. A ‘sinergy’ was created between sparkling wines and water, which was essential to give continuity to the entire business.
However, this activity presented many critical issues for them, and this brought them to consult Luigi, who already had the bottling skills and know-how acquired through sparkling wine production.
Ever more determined and forward-thinking, Luigi once again looked beyond and prepared the Company for a new and difficult challenge that had to be faced with trial stages, great commitment and, of course, the help of the entire family.
Therefore, Luigi began to market the “San Cassiano” mineral water. Later on, when the plant was up and running, it was granted a mining concession for the exploitation of the spring.
The intuition behind this choice was as simple as it was essential: while sparkling wine is a seasonal product with sales peaks during winter festivities, on the other hand, water could reach great results, especially in the summer.
In this way, the staff was employed full-time, as the company's business was distributed throughout the year. A ‘sinergy’ was created between sparkling wines and water, which was essential to give continuity to the entire business.
The purchase of the ancient “San Cassiano” spring prepared the Company for two more important steps: when his children, Paola and Paolo, joined the company.
As always, the family is united to achieve important goals: create a quality sparkling wine with a more well-defined identity and strengthen the water business in the Marche territory, a place where they were particularly tied to and thankful for.
All company actions are driven by a strong desire to innovate, grow and in pursuit of continuous improvement. Luigi, who was mainly involved in the plants and production activities, could now count on the contribution of new resources: Paolo, who is in charge of the commercial division, and Paola, who deals with the administrative one.
The two siblings were young, enthusiastic and in love with the business and with support and great cooperation, successfully put into place a more structured Company management that was open to change.
As always, the family is united to achieve important goals: create a quality sparkling wine with a more well-defined identity and strengthen the water business in the Marche territory, a place where they were particularly tied to and thankful for.
All company actions are driven by a strong desire to innovate, grow and in pursuit of continuous improvement. Luigi, who was mainly involved in the plants and production activities, could now count on the contribution of new resources: Paolo, who is in charge of the commercial division, and Paola, who deals with the administrative one.
The two siblings were young, enthusiastic and in love with the business and with support and great cooperation, successfully put into place a more structured Company management that was open to change.
Business evolution and the first generational transition
An idea, a project and a solid entrepreneurial business that is constantly growing
Buying a new spring and PET production
In Genga, in the start of the 1980’s, a group of doctors who owned the “Acqua Minerale Frasassi” spring, turned to Luigi and his company, recognizing their solid know-how and asked for management support regarding the bottling of their mineral water.
This led to an important opportunity, that allowed for the take-over of that company and the subsequent ownership of it.
These were years of great change in Italy, that brought among other things, the introduction of new technological solutions.
People started talking about PET and the company, reconfirming its focus and propensity for innovative solutions, decided undertake this new challenge by setting out to expand its PET-packaged water business.
The company, able to take advantage of existing business relationships in the sparkling wine field, entered the large-scale retail trade with PET bottled water as well.
This led to an important opportunity, that allowed for the take-over of that company and the subsequent ownership of it.
These were years of great change in Italy, that brought among other things, the introduction of new technological solutions.
People started talking about PET and the company, reconfirming its focus and propensity for innovative solutions, decided undertake this new challenge by setting out to expand its PET-packaged water business.
The company, able to take advantage of existing business relationships in the sparkling wine field, entered the large-scale retail trade with PET bottled water as well.
In 2005, with the purchase of the Cantina di CasalFarneto, that produced high quality Verdicchio at Serra dei Conti, the company entered the Marche wine making world.
Subsequently in 2014, when the craft beer market was living a ‘vibrant’ period, always in view of enhancing their homeland and with an eye on market trends, it was decided to start a collaboration with the Collesi brewery located in Apecchio, a small town in the province of Pesaro and Urbino.
In only 4 years, sales grew substantially and keeping in line with the company philosophy, a corporate partnership with Tenute Collesi Beer Factory was finalized in 2018, thus making the company become a full-fledged producer of craft beer, under the Terza Rima and Collesi brands.
In 2017 - in a particularly positive moment characterized by strong company development and in line with their growth strategies-, Paola took charge of the company, while Paolo took the reins of CasalFarneto, running exclusively and independently the wine branch outside the Togni company.
Subsequently in 2014, when the craft beer market was living a ‘vibrant’ period, always in view of enhancing their homeland and with an eye on market trends, it was decided to start a collaboration with the Collesi brewery located in Apecchio, a small town in the province of Pesaro and Urbino.
In only 4 years, sales grew substantially and keeping in line with the company philosophy, a corporate partnership with Tenute Collesi Beer Factory was finalized in 2018, thus making the company become a full-fledged producer of craft beer, under the Terza Rima and Collesi brands.
In 2017 - in a particularly positive moment characterized by strong company development and in line with their growth strategies-, Paola took charge of the company, while Paolo took the reins of CasalFarneto, running exclusively and independently the wine branch outside the Togni company.
Paola Togni
Elisa and Andrea Scarabotti
The future: Elisa and Andrea
The future: Elisa and Andrea
Elisa and Andrea have experienced the family business since childhood.
They lived a life where the boundaries of personal and professional life had been blurred, and over time, the two young people became passionate about the entrepreneurial activity their grandfather successfully started and defined their roles with awareness and a cross-cutting approach.
Today, Elisa and Andrea flank Paola in leading the company and are members of the Board of Directors of Togni SpA.
Elisa is in charge of Marketing, Institutional Communication and Product Development, while Andrea is in charge of Sales and Business Development.
They lived a life where the boundaries of personal and professional life had been blurred, and over time, the two young people became passionate about the entrepreneurial activity their grandfather successfully started and defined their roles with awareness and a cross-cutting approach.
Today, Elisa and Andrea flank Paola in leading the company and are members of the Board of Directors of Togni SpA.
Elisa is in charge of Marketing, Institutional Communication and Product Development, while Andrea is in charge of Sales and Business Development.
Investing in Franciacorta
In 2018, the desire to grow in the sparkling wine sector in the most suitable areas of Italy, led the company to invest in Franciacorta, a land recalling the’ excellence’ of Italian drinking. Here, sparkling wine reaches the highest quality standards with one-of-a-kind method in the world that, by following strict disciplinary rules, protects its quality and area of origin.
A very high quality product was then produced and marketed in the HoReCa channel, whose brand is Paola’s mother name, or rather last name: Centinari.
A choice made out of love and respect for Rita, who knew how to hand down to her children and grandchildren the importance of doing things well and with the proper timing.
In 2018, the desire to grow in the sparkling wine sector in the most suitable areas of Italy, led the company to invest in Franciacorta, a land recalling the’ excellence’ of Italian drinking. Here, sparkling wine reaches the highest quality standards with one-of-a-kind method in the world that, by following strict disciplinary rules, protects its quality and area of origin.
A very high quality product was then produced and marketed in the HoReCa channel, whose brand is Paola’s mother name, or rather last name: Centinari.
A choice made out of love and respect for Rita, who knew how to hand down to her children and grandchildren the importance of doing things well and with the proper timing.
The acquisition of Molise spring
In June 2023, the Togni company bought a new Mineral Water Spring in Molise, “Sepinia”, whose pristine water springs in the Matese massif on the heights above the ancient Roman city of “Saepinum”.
Another important milestone that established their presence in the Mineral Water market also in Southern Italy.
In June 2023, the Togni company bought a new Mineral Water Spring in Molise, “Sepinia”, whose pristine water springs in the Matese massif on the heights above the ancient Roman city of “Saepinum”.
Another important milestone that established their presence in the Mineral Water market also in Southern Italy.
The love for our land, people, and nature is what drives us to better ourselves, every single day
il Gruppo Togni oggi
The Togni Group has reached its third generation of entrepreneurs. This is the company's present.
A “present in continuous movement” that has all of the necessary requisites to foreshadow a future in line with the dreams and aspirations of its founder, young Luigi.
The Togni family and, more in general, the ‘company family’ that includes employees, collaborators and trusted people, is very tightly knit, motivated, determined and plans to remain so in order to enthusiastically continue a business started 70 years ago - always current and never stopping, in the name of enhancing the territory, the people who live and work there and the quality of all that is accomplished every day with unfailing passion.
A “present in continuous movement” that has all of the necessary requisites to foreshadow a future in line with the dreams and aspirations of its founder, young Luigi.
The Togni family and, more in general, the ‘company family’ that includes employees, collaborators and trusted people, is very tightly knit, motivated, determined and plans to remain so in order to enthusiastically continue a business started 70 years ago - always current and never stopping, in the name of enhancing the territory, the people who live and work there and the quality of all that is accomplished every day with unfailing passion.