Bragagnolo family

Pasta ZARA has more than a century of history and has always been run by the Bragagnolo family, today at its fourth generation. A business story continuing successfully, which transformed a small factory to a company leader in the world.
Each Bragagnolo reaching the top of the company brought with him innovation, development and passion. Keeping tradition alive, the Bragagnolo’s always invested in the people, in the products and in the future. Today, Furio, Arianna, Umberto and Franca reflect perfectly this entrepreneurial spirit: looking forward, but taking inspirations from their roots.

The history of Pasta Zara and of Bragagnolo family

1898

Emanuele Bragagnolo starts a small artisan pasta factory in Villarazzo (Treviso).

1918

Umberto Bragagnolo, Emanuele’s son, decided to convert the company from a small factory to an industrial reality, moving the head office from Villarazzo to Castelfranco Veneto, in the same province of Treviso. The new company was called Pastificio Elettrico Bragagnolo.

1932

A new factory, called Pastificio Adriatico, was opened in the city of Zara, which then belonged to Italy and was the capital of Venetian Dalmatia.

1943

The city of Zara was destroyed by the bombs. By the end of the Second World War, Tito had come to power and the factory was seized by the regime. Umberto Bragagnolo was forced to leave, abandoning the idea of a second plant.  He died after few time in Castelfranco Veneto, in his home, during a raid.

1965

The company was developing in such a way that a new and larger production facility was required. It was built in Riese Pio X, which is also located in the province of Treviso, and to commemorate the company’s experience in Zara, it took the name of Pasta ZARA.

1975

Franco Bragagnolo, who had taken over the management of the company, had the fortuitous insight to concentrate entirely on exports. Results were obtained immediately: first in Austria, then in Germany and in Greece. Over the years Pasta ZARA and its high-quality products achieved success in markets all over the world.

1997

The fourth generation of Bragagnolo family set in: Franco passes gradually the management of the company to his children Furio (chairman), Arianna, Umberto and Franca.

2002

The second production facility of  Pasta ZARA is opened in Muggia (Trieste), doubling the company’s output.

2004

Pasta ZARA overcomes the competition, becoming the first Italian exporter and the second producer of dry pasta.

2009

Friulia, finanziaria regionale del Friuli Venezia Giulia, entra nella compagine societaria di Pasta ZARA spa, rafforzando il piano di sviluppo dell’azienda.

2010

Pastificio Pagani, in Rovato (Brescia) is acquired, becoming the third production facility of Pasta ZARA.