Over 100 years of history
the history of an Italian company, from its beginnings to its rise to prominence
Special certification recognised by the Italian Ministry of Enterprise and Mada to protect and promote Italian brands.
Over 100 years of history
the history of an Italian company, from its beginnings to its rise to prominence
Special certification recognised by the Italian Ministry of Enterprise and Mada to protect and promote Italian brands.
23 July 1913
Luigi Zaini inaugurates the eponymous ‘Factory of Chocolate, Cocoa, Sweets, Jams and Similar Products’ in Milan, in Via de Cristoforis. Alongside production, he imports British confectionery products, demonstrating his open-minded and visionary spirit from the outset.
23 July 1913
Luigi Zaini inaugurates the eponymous ‘Factory of Chocolate, Cocoa, Sweets, Jams and Similar Products’ in Milan, in Via de Cristoforis. Alongside production, he imports British confectionery products, demonstrating his open-minded and visionary spirit from the outset.
1938
Following the untimely death of Luigi Zaini, his wife Olga, equally visionary and capable, takes over. She will be one of the very few female industrialists of the time, surrounding herself with a female staff and instilling equal opportunities among the company’s values. Suppliers will affectionately nickname the factory “Tosan factory” the “Girls’ factory”.
1955
Olga Zaini entrusts the management of the company to her sons Vittorio and Piero, but not before changing the name of the company’s flagship dark chocolate bar to “Emilia”, in honour of the nanny who looked after her children, allowing her to work full time.
1990
Zàini passes under the leadership of Luigi Zaini, Vittorio’s son, who, together with his sister Antonella, oversees its consolidation and development in Italy and abroad, starting with the modernisation of production processes.
2013
Zàini celebrates its 100th anniversary with a new book published by Giunti on 100 years of chocolate in Italy, an exhibition sponsored by the Municipality of Milan entitled “Luigi Zaini and the chocolate factory” is held at Palazzo Sormani in Milan, and a flagship store is created, designed as a real old-fashioned chocolate boutique.
2013 – 2020
The story of Zàini takes shape, shifting from memory to substance in September 2013 with the opening of Zàini Milano in Via De Cristoforis – a chocolat boutique with café service, created in perfect balance between past and present. In 2020 the venue doubled, with a second opening in Viale Piave 17.
2023
And the story continues… now told in the novel “La Fabbrica delle Tuse” (The Tuse Factory) by Giacinta Cavagna di Gualdana, published by Piemme in 2023, which recounts the intertwining of the private and factory lives of the owners and employees of the large chocolate factory in Milan.