Can you tell us about your journey and how you arrived in Mauritius?
I come from a family of merchants in Italy and completed university training as a chartered accountant. I began my career in an accounting firm, but I met my husband on a holiday and decided to settle in Mauritius after a few years. The transition was not always easy, with a different language and culture, but I’m now happy with my choice.
How did your adventure with L’Artigiano begin?
I met Silvano, my former business partner, at our children’s school. Our families quickly bonded and we developed a great connection. We decided to do something together during school hours and had the opportunity to take over L’Artigiano.
At the time, it was a small business that imported and distributed a limited range of Italian food products, with only four people. Today, we offer nearly 1,300 product lines and have grown into a team of 24 employees.
Recently, L’Artigiano partnered with the Aptis Group. Can you tell us more about this collaboration?
From the start, Silvano had decided that his experience in Mauritius had to have a beginning but also an end. His intention wasn’t to stay tied to this country indefinitely, but to travel, see the world and be free. APTIS was the ideal candidate to continue what we had created, but also our values and vision. It is a very dynamic group with professional teams and a structure that allows us to move from a family-run business to a corporate one.
How do you select and source gourmet products from Italy?
All our suppliers are chosen with great care. We have personally visited their companies, met the owners and tested their products.
We try to work directly with them as the human relationship is essential to us. By avoiding intermediaries, we manage to get the best price. When I go to Italy, I visit companies and trade fairs, and I tour restaurants.
Trade fairs are ideal opportunities to discover new products, new trends and new suppliers.
What are some of the most popular or best-selling Italian gourmet products in Mauritius?
Each region has its typical dishes, its ingredients and its own traditions. For me, being from the Campania region, dishes such as mozzarella, pizza, gnocchi alla sorrentina, limoncello and baba are among our most emblematic culinary representations. But among the best-selling and most well-known products in Mauritius are certainly Parmigiano Reggiano, mozzarella, burrata, Parma ham, extra virgin olive oils, balsamic vinegars, pesto, flours, prosecco and truffle products.
What sets L’Artigiano apart from other gourmet food importers in Mauritius?
We are a company specializing in Italian food products, run by Italians. These products are an integral part of our culture, which we seek to share with our customers.
We never compromise on quality, even if it means slightly higher prices, while always maintaining value for money.
For us, the relationship with our customers must be based on a solid and authentic partnership, rather than a simple supplier-customer relationship. That’s why we invest more in the presence of a chef than a mere salesperson.
We emphasise the professionalism of our teams and we firmly believe that training never stops for any of us, including myself.
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