1956-1972
1956
A modern company
Lavazza is growing and moves towards becoming the leading producer of roasted coffee. Beppe
and Pericle decide to back strategies that are more oriented toward development, industrialisation
and the conquest of the consumer market. Mario transfers his shares to Beppe and Pericle. They
commit themselves to maintain Lavazza as a family-held business, despite the fact that it is a
joint-stock company.
1957
Technological innovation and communication
With the new factory on Corso Novara, the great coffee-roasting industry is born. The main
innovation lies in the processing cycle, which makes it possible to handle the coffee with a
vertical or gravity process. As it falls, the coffee goes through the roasting, blending and
packaging phases. This is a totally innovative process in Italy and it proves to be extremely
rational and efficient, guaranteeing the processing of more than 88,000 lb of coffee a day. The
picture of a modern brand-name company is completed with the addition of advertising and marketing.
The first advertising campaign is launched and the house organ, “Notizie Lavazza”, is published.
1957
Emilio Lavazza
Beppe Lavazza's son Emilio has been with the company for several years. He strongly believes
in the power of advertising and therefore contacts the Testa Studio in Turin for a nationwide
billboard campaign. This marks the beginning of a long-lasting and important relationship, but also
a strong friendship between the Lavazzas, Beppe and Emilio, and Armando Testa.
1958
Paulista
Lavazza launches Paulista, the coffee in a tin that is vacuum-packed under pressure. The
launch is supported by the first unforgettable Lavazza advertising campaign: the adventures of
Caballero and Carmencita, which support the character/product Paulista.
1971
Beppe passes away
Beppe Lavazza, who was born in Turin in 1901, dies on 21 September. His brother Pericle
becomes the president of the company.