Mario Piccini talks about the importance of the family legacy in his company, a treasure that combines tradition, values and passion. From his experience as a young man, when he had to earn the esteem of his colleagues, to the responsibility of passing on knowledge to his children, the Piccini family has always played a central role, thanks in part to the strength of women in the company’s history. Looking to the future, Piccini focuses on transparency, quality and respect for the local area, a commitment that is reflected in the loyalty of its customers and love for the brand.
Piccini 1882 has a centuries-long history of nearly 140 years. What does this legacy mean to you? And what does working in a family business represent for you?
This legacy is the greatest asset on which our company rests. It reminds us of our origins, our history, our family. It means handing down and sharing our values, which we try to convey in each of our bottles. Sip a glass of Piccini and you enter our family.
Do you remember your first day in the company?
I remember it like it was yesterday. As soon as I walked in, I immediately looked for a desk and an armchair where I could sit and start working. But, against my expectations, the door to the warehouse was pointed out to me. I spent the day among the labels, preparing for bottling.
Despite what you may think, joining the company as the owner’s son has not been easy. There is a certain “skepticism” in the eyes of colleagues, who inevitably look at you as the second general manager. Therefore, my first job ever was to create credibility for myself day after day, earning the esteem of close associates.
What was it like to work side by side with your father first and with your children later?
It is a unique experience that is hard to describe in words; a thrill and a continuous growth. Day after day I try to teach my children everything my father taught me. It is a pride and a great responsibility, which encapsulates the essence and philosophy of Piccini: to hand down from generation to generation the most important and precious heritage for us: our history.
What role have women played in the history of Piccini 1882?
Women have always been the backbone of our family. Much of our history comes through the brilliant and ingenious touch offered by the female side of the Piccini family. Even today, I often would not know what course to take without the advice and counsel of my sisters. Their point of view is invaluable and allows me to find solutions I would never have thought of. This is what I call a family business.
Your grandfather liked to repeat, “Everything we do in the present is both past and for the future,” you if you look ahead what do you see?
My grandfather, like my father, was a wise and far-sighted man. His words guide and inspire us every day, encapsulating the very essence of our company. Each of our bottles conveys the history we have built and the future we want to design.
Today’s markets demand clarity, sincerity and precision, combined with a deeper attention to territory and quality. Our company has always embraced these values, and today more than ever we feel the need to return to the consumer a product that reflects excellence and respect for our territory.
All this translates into the great loyalty that our customers have always reserved for our brand. Piccini, after all, is a brand that is easy to love for those who know us and difficult to understand for those who do not. In fact, I think it is more than understandable that our high quality, supported by a very low price, may be puzzling to those who do not know our brand. My invitation, however, is to overcome this initial distrust and give it a try, because this is the only thing that confronts us with ourselves and the outside world.