The Majani was founded, under the name of "Laboratory of Sweet Things" and by Teresa Majani, in 1796 in Bologna: its first home is a small artisan shop with adjoining shop located next to the Basilica of San Petronio. The most prestigious product of the company is the FIAT cremino, born in 1911 as an advertising initiative for the launch of the Fiat Tipo 4 car. From the years of its foundation to the present day, Majani has been honored with prestigious awards all over the world. among which those on the occasion of the Universal Expositions of Paris (1867 and 1878), Vienna (1873) and Milan (1881). Become an official supplier of the Royal House of Savoy in the years of the birth of the Kingdom of Italy, the company recently (2011) received the plaque "Company that has made the history of Italy".
Majani History
Majani has its roots in the Bologna of 1796, when the "Laboratory of Sweet Things" was born near the Basilica of San Petronio, a small artisan shop founded by Teresa Majani.
In 1830 in the heart of Bologna - exactly at number 5 and 7 of via de 'Carbonesi - a property of about 5,000 m² was purchased, which in the following years renamed the Palazzo Majani: it is a building that houses the ground floor laboratory and the shop with the tea room, on the first floor the apartment of the Majani Family and on the upper floors other apartments.
It is 1856 when Giuseppe Majani, in an Italy still divided into States and Ducati, reaches Turin with a passport issued by the Papal States to buy the most modern plants for the processing of chocolate. On the occasion of the Universal Expositions of Paris (1867 and 1878), Vienna (1873) and Milan (1881) the Majani company is recognized as one of the most qualified in Europe.
These are the years when the company became an official supplier of the Royal House of Savoy, in a young Kingdom of Italy. At the end of 1878 Umberto I granted the right to raise the Royal Coat of Arms on the sign of the Bolognese store. They will be followed by the Real House of the Sermo Infante Duque de Montpensier (1885) and the Real House of the Sermo Infante Don Antonio de Orléans (1893). In 1891 Aldo Majani was also awarded the title of Knight of the Order of the Crown of Italy.
In 1911, from an advertising initiative for the launch of the Fiat Tipo 4 car, the Cremino FIAT was born, the most prestigious product of the Bologna-based company. Among others, they expressed their appreciation for the product - still in production today - the various Gabriele D'Annunzio, Guglielmo Marconi, Giosuè Carducci, Augusto Murri and Olindo Guerrini.
World War II caused the Majani family and the company problems in consequence of which it was decided to restart the production of chocolate in Palazzo Majani in Via de 'Carbonesi, still owned. This choice compromised the company's development, putting in time also the Majani Family, in 1976, in the minority in the social structure.
Acknowledgments:
In 1985 Francesco Mezzadri Majani and his mother Anna managed to restore control of the company to the Majani family. Currently the company carries out its work in Crespellano, a few kilometers from Bologna, in two factories owned for a total of 7,500 m².
In 1867, 1878, 1873 and 1881 Majani receives prizes and medals on the occasion of the Universal Exhibitions in Paris, Vienna and Milan;
In 1878 Umberto I granted the right to raise the Royal Coat of Arms on the company's banner;
In 1891 Aldo Majani was conferred the title of Knight of the Order of the Crown of Italy;
In 1885 and 1893 they allowed Majani to raise their Royal Coat of Arms on the sign of the shop also the Real House of the Sermo Infante Duque de Montpensier and the Real House of the Sermo Infante Don Antonio de Orléans;