1859-1900
1885
From Monferrato to Turin
At the age of 25, with just fifty lire in his pocket but plenty of dreams, Luigi
Lavazza leaves Monferrato and moves to Turin. His idea is to set up his own business in the city,
but he certainly does not imagine that his name will become famous one day. He has plenty of energy
and resourcefulness, and with his drive to move ahead, in the ten years to follow Luigi often
changes jobs: manual labourer, factory worker, shop clerk. In the meantime, he attends business
school evening courses and then the municipal school of chemistry. This gives him a chance to
discover his true vocation: business.
1894
The first grocery shop
After numerous work experiences, Luigi Lavazza decides to move up in quality: he
quits his job as a warehouse worker, buys the “Paissa e Olivero”, an old grocery shop in the heart
of Turin, and goes into business for himself. His dream comes true. The grocery shop, the starting
point for the modern-day Lavazza Company, opens for business on 24 March 1894.
1895
Lavazza is founded
This is the year the Lavazza Company is officially established. Luigi heads the
company, assisted by his cousin Pericle Forno. The shop sells a bit of everything. It works over
the counter, offering home deliveries and supplying the nearby inns. In addition to retailing,
Lavazza, like other grocery shops, also produces soap, spirits, oil, spices and, of course, coffee.
1900
The business expands
Lavazza has a staff of six: some of the employees work in the wholesale area and
are busy finding new clients outside the customs border.
