Discover the Nonno Andrea brand: here’s our interview.

Nonno Andrea was founded in the early Nineties in Villorba, a town in the Treviso plain situated between the gentle hills of Montello and the mighty, stony River Piave. This farm is run by the Manzan family and operates in full biodiversity and organic farming, standing out for a meticulous approach to safeguarding the environment in its entirety, giving rise to strictly farm-made, genuine, and high-quality products. Over 60 hectares of land in the Treviso plain, cultivated with passion, are in the continuous search for excellence, in harmony with the ecosystem.

The Manzan family operates proudly and determinedly following some important values, such as the protection of the environment in its entirety. For this reason, active recycling is practiced in the company, waste is avoided, energy is produced through photovoltaic panels, and there is great attention to ensuring that packages and packaging are made of recyclable materials.
The Manzans cultivate their land following ancient knowledge, challenging the stony soils that make irrigation difficult but provide mineral properties to the crops, making them particularly flavorful. They work in harmony with the surprising variety of living species that populate their natural ecosystem, taking care of it every day. 
They follow their passion for nature, a healthy environment, and authentic flavors: fruits and vegetables are certified “Biodiversity Friend”, ensuring that the crops grow in a highly natural environment.

We love these artisans, these producers of unique, certified, and award-winning delicacies: they are true treasures nestled in our Peninsula between seas and mountains and in the most remote streets of villages and countryside. We do not simply live their products; we want to discover more closely the protagonists of this brand. This is why we sent some questions to those who manage communication with us.

Stay with us to learn about Nonno Andrea: read the answers!
 

• Who are we talking to?
  I am Paolo Manzan, a partner in the business along with my wife Sonia and son Luca.
   
• Is the company family-run? In what year was the company founded and who was the founder?
  The company is an evolution of two separate businesses: Sonia's family dedicated to livestock and Paolo's family dedicated to viticulture and winemaking. Today we are third-generation farmers.
   
• Who was the founder and what was their training or what work and professional field did they come from if different from the current one?
  The founding partners of the current Nonno Andrea are my wife and I, and in fact, we come from our respective companies as mentioned earlier.
   
• What is the true reason or triggering fact behind the birth of this company and when did it happen?
  The triggering fact was more than anything a realization: to create something that is entirely ours. My wife was in charge of selling the vegetables that I grew, and despite many difficulties, in 2003 we made this choice. An additional evolution occurred in 2014 when we decided to start the adventure of transforming our products, thus producing creams, ketchup, sweet jams, and preserves.
   
• What is your relationship with the land of origin and its uniqueness? And why do you want to tell its story through your products?
  We cultivate 60 hectares of land in the fertile and prosperous Treviso plain, between the gentle hills of Montello and the mighty River Piave, following the knowledge of the past combined with innovative techniques. Living every day immersed in nature and being respectful allies and friends is undoubtedly the life we dreamed of. For this reason, through our work, we wish to cultivate and offer genuine and high-quality products while simultaneously protecting the entire environment that surrounds us. 
   
• What was the first product you created?
  Cultivation of vegetables, but among the first processed products were sweet jams in general. 
   
• What is the product that you consider "flagship" today?
  Certainly the grilled organic IGP Treviso Radicchio.
   
• And what product in the entire history of the company has carried the beating heart, philosophy, and soul of the company itself the most?
  The late Treviso radicchio in general, both fresh and processed.
   
• Talk about today: how much has the company grown since its inception? Can we have some numbers?
  From 5 to 60 hectares and from 0 to 42 employees.
   
• At this moment: more tradition or more innovation?
  At this moment we live in a perfect balance between the agricultural tradition of our territory and the push towards a future that has already arrived. A future that sees us committed to sustainable agriculture, capable of living in symbiosis with nature and of making it our friend and ally. 
   
• What has been the most important evolution of the company to reach what it is today?
  The most important evolution has definitely been creating a bond; we have formed a team of people who work closely together towards a common goal. At Nonno Andrea, we feel like a large extended family where everyone can express their talents and creativity at work. This is the added value that has allowed us to reach where we are now.
   
• Speaking of the future: what tomorrow awaits the company? Are there any changes or new evolutionary processes planned?
  At Nonno Andrea, evolution is a constant! Less than a year ago, we renewed our point of sale and opened our associated agriturismo, where the harvests from our gardens become the main raw material for our preparations. Today, we are opening the doors of our farm for experiential visits, guided tours, picnics in the gardens and orchards. Additionally, we are working on a large biodiversity park, with a floodplain forest, a pond, and a biodiversity path… The goal is to share the pristine beauty of the native nature of our territory with as many people as possible.
   
• Do you plan to create new products?
  Certainly, in our kitchen, we are already working on new creams, preserves, and much more!
   
• Having relied on Spaghetti & Mandolino, how important is online sales for you, what has your past relationship with this sales channel been, and how do you see it in the future?
  Spaghetti & Mandolino represents a guarantee for us. The professionalism of this e-commerce is a standard that allows us to bring the philosophy of Nonno Andrea into the homes and tables of those who live far from us. 
   
• Value: what has it been, what is it today, and what will it be in the future for your company?
  The main value that we carry forward with pride and determination is the protection of the environment in its entirety. For this reason, we practice active recycling, produce energy for our company through photovoltaic panels, pay attention to making sure that packages and packaging are made of recyclable materials, and we do not like waste. Furthermore, what we do every day through our work is cultivate genuine and high-quality products while simultaneously protecting the entire environment in which our crops extend to ensure total respect and safeguarding of the nature in which we are immersed and with which we collaborate.

S&M