1905 1905
1905

A long journey begins

In 1905, Gennaro Fabbri took over an old grocery store with a wine cellar in Porto-maggiore, province of Ferrara. He was 45 years old and had two sons, Aldo and Romeo. Gennaro transformed that little shop into a producer and distributor of liqueurs. The sign outside read «Premiata Distilleria Liquori G. Fabbri», known today as "Fabbri 1905". It was the beginning of a long entrepreneurial adventure. The company's success only grew over time, all the way to the turn of the millennium. 

1915 1915

The invention of "Marena con Frutto":

a growing passion

In the 1920s, Gennaro Fabbri opened the company’s fi rst Bologna plant, and production expanded into delicious alcoholic and non-alcoholic syrups. That was the beginning of Fabbri’s most famous product: the “Marena con frutto,” inspired by a recipe from Gennaro’s wife Rachele. Mint and grenadine syrups joined the lineup as well.

1915 1915
1930 1930
1930

Cherries in Liquor:

new recipes, new horizons

The 1930s saw the addition of Cherries in Liquor and a range of Jams to the product range. During the difficult war years, these jams were the only thing the company was allowed to produce. Gennaro’s sons Romeo and Aldo became increasingly involved in helping run the business, and in 1933 the company’s name was changed to “Ditta G. Fabbri di Aldo e Romeo Fabbri”.

1935

Bar Centrale:

Bologna's high-society salon

Around this time, Fabbri’s fi rst semi-finished products for artisanal gelato came onto the scene. Gennaro bought the Bar Centrale in Bologna, located in the heart of the city, across from the Stock Exchange in a busy business district. His sons turned it into an elegant salon, where Fabbri products were always on the menu.
The bar was open 24 hours a day, a rarity at the time, and became a favourite meeting point for businessmen, young city-dwellers, and the socialites of high society. The menu featured liquors, syrups and gelato all made with Fabbri 1905 semi-finished products.

1935 1935
1947
1947

Rebuilding in the postwar period:

Fabbri makes the big leagues

During the economic reconstruction of the postwar period, Fabbri became a joint-stock company under the name of “G. Fabbri S.p.A.” In 1947, the next generation - Fabio and Giorgio, Gennaro Fabbri’s grandsons - took the helm. They expanded production of liquors and, naturally, of traditional products like Amarena Fabbri and the famous fruit syrups.

1952 1952

Another step foward:

gelato, made in Italy

A courageous step forward launched the company into the spotlight on the international stage: the launch of a new successful product, the “Cremolati.” These were semi-finished bases for traditional Italian gelato-making: pastes of fruit and cream that, when mixed with milk or water, magically transformed into excellent, artisanal gelato. To this day, Fabbri is the leader of this niche market. It was a huge success and opened up a whole new market for Fabbri: classic Italian gelato.

1952
1954
1954

Fabbri: Italy's travelling gelato school

Once again, the Fabbri family had a great idea that was ahead of its time. They set up a fl eet of traveling “gelato workshops”: vans set up to show gelato makers and pastry chefs how to make good, artisanal gelato using Fabbri’s own semi-fi nished products. It was a highly innovative marketing strategy: the vans travelled all around Italy, spreading the company’s image far and wide.

1957

Carosello:

"After the pirate, everyone off to bed with Fabbri"

Always ahead of the game, Fabbri was among the earliest key fi gures on Carosello, a legendary Italian television show featuring skits and advertisements, that entertained generations of adults and children starting in 1957. Millions of Italians still look back fondly on the humorous adventures of “Salomone, the chubby pirate”, an animated cartoon created by Fabbri. Even after Carosello went off the air, Fabbri continued to invest in television advertising, and entrusted their company’s image to famous directors.

1957
1960
1960

The third generation:

ethusiasm, passion and strategy

In the ‘60s and ‘70s, the third generation of the Fabbri family took over running the company. Their management style was still characterized by enthusiasm, passion, and a desire to be always one step ahead of the times. Production was moved to Anzola Emilia, to a new, 180,000-square-meter facility that is still active today. The Fabbri label found its way into millions of Italian homes with the rise of advertising, and the company once again rose to meet the new production challenge. International distribution of Fabbri products also began.

1970

Toppings: a revolution in homemade pastry

In the 1970s, Fabbri launched its first line of Toppings for gelato and desserts. It was revolutionary: Italian households suddenly discovered a passion for dessert. Fabbri products made it easier to express one’s talent and creativity in the kitchen, to the delight of the whole family.

1970
Our history
1980
1980

Fabbri: the worldwide launch of the brand

In the 80s, Fabbri expanded their product line intended for use away from home, and began working with partner companies to distribute their products more widely. The goal was to expand and consolidate sales on the international markets.

1990 1990

The Fourth generation:
Fabbri great-grandchildren take the helm

The fourth generation of the Fabbri family took over the company. The founder’s great-grandsons Andrea, Nicola, Paolo and Umberto take control of a company with 250 employees, 17 production lines and 23 packaging lines. The family business now distributes 1,200 products in over 100 countries.

1990
1995
1995

Chefs and Bartenders: imagination on the menu

As the brand’s reputation grew thanks to advertising, Fabbri continued to diversify its product line. This is how the products designed for bartenders were created Mixybar and, a year later, Mixyfruit: fruit concentrates for mixed drinks. Soon thereafter, a line of products for fl avouring coffee, hot chocolate, cappuccino and tea also appeared on the scene.

1996
1996

Master class: building on success

Not just high-quality product, high-quality professional development too. In 1996, the UNI-certifi ed “Permanent International School of Artisanal Gelato and Pastry” was founded. The school was a big success, and changed its name a few years later to “Fabbri Master Class,” the name that still distinguishes Fabbri’s training centres in Italy and abroad.

1996
2000
2000

A new milestone: italian style around the world

Building on the strength of a brand defined by high quality, Fabbri conquered the foreign market with traditional Italian products, proving itself to always be ready to take on new challenges. The brand strategy became twofold: on the one hand, the search for distribution partners for Fabbri products, on the other, direct investment in creating foreign companies controlled by the Fabbri family. Tradition and passion are still the key ingredients in every Fabbri recipe today.

2005

One hundred years: the incredible Fabbri story

In 2005, the company celebrated its centennial with prestigious events and limited-edition products. Among the biggest crowd-pleasers were the Centennial Jar, the “One Hundred Years of Fabbri” monograph, and the company’s participation in the Venice Film Festival. Fabbri 1905, famed for having “invented” the inimitable Amarena Fabbri cherries and fruit syrups, is constantly dedicated to promoting and establishing Italian-made goodness around the world.

2005
2010
2010

The fifth generation: traditional renewed

The fifth generation of the Fabbri took their place at the head of the company, working on large-scale projects aimed at continuous research and innovation, without ever losing their strong connection to tradition. Today, the company operates in four main markets. Along with the many products aimed at home consumers, Fabbri also offers solutions and high-value products to professionals in the fi eld of artisanal gelato, Italian and international bartenders and baristas, and Italian and international pastry chefs.

2015

Amarena Fabbri: a century of delicious style

Amarena Fabbri cherries and their iconic jar, now one hundred years old, together represent the true Italian style beloved all over the world. Numerous events were held to celebrate the centennial: a special all-women edition of the Fabbri Art Prize, and the social initiative “Amarena Stories,” a crowdsourced collection of stories of people’s thoughts and memories about Amarena Fabbri. These distinctive events demonstrate just how much of an impression these cherries have left in the Italian collective imagination - and how much they can be seen as a metaphor for the world of art. The distinctive Amarena Fabbri jar has become a true icon of style and taste.

2015
2022
2022

4 historical company brands of national interest are recognized at Fabbri 1905: the Fabbri brand, the Amarena Fabbri brand,
the blue-on-white Faenza decoration and the syrup bottle.

Il murales che da volto alla sede di Fabbri

On June 6, 2022, the striking mural by street artist Cheone, created on three sides of Fabbri 1905's historic headquarters in Borgo Panigale, is unveiled. The work is a true tribute to the neighborhood that has guarded the company's soul for more than 100 years. For its creation Fabbri chooses an 'innovative protective product of Italian technology: Airlite Hystoriqa, which, in addition to protecting the work, is able to purify the air of pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx).

Today

Fabbri quality around the world

Gelato and pastry shops, mass consumption, beverages and coffee: 1,300 products, 17 production lines, and 10 offices around the world. A family holding company that distributes in over 100 countries, led by the fourth generation of the Fabbri family, Nicola, Paolo, and Umberto - and now joined by the fifth generation as well, Carlotta, Stefania, Federico and Pietro Fabbri, Giovanni Quattrocchi, Michele Magli and Fabio Macrì. Following in the footsteps of Gennaro: the ideals and philosophy of the first generation still echo down to the fifth, and define the history of both the family and their company