At the age of 21, Giuseppe Napolitano, his wife Rosa and their 6-month-old son, left their native village in the province of Naples, Italy, to start a brand new life in Quebec. Upon his arrival, he quickly joined the Italian restaurant community where he learned English and French.

Thanks to their culinary expertise and entrepreneurial spirit, the Napolitano family decided to open their first pizzeria under the name O Sole Mio on Darlington Street, at the corner of Barclay Street. The pizzeria quickly became a neighborhood staple for many years.

Over the years, the Napolitano family continued to expand, first opening a second restaurant on Masson Street, a larger location offering a full menu that showcased their passion for cooking and the recipes from their home country. Then, in 1967, they aimed even higher with the opening of a third establishment, Napoli Restaurant on Dorion Street. This milestone marked an important turning point in their journey and brought them, a few years later, closer to achieving Mr. Napolitano’s ultimate dream.

In 1969, the Napolitano family began the importation of tomatoes from Italy. It became easier to obtain fresh ingredients from their region to which their culture is still attached.

It is in the neighborhood of Montreal’s Little Italy that Mr. Napolitano’s dream of owning an upper class gastronomic restaurant has become a reality. Casa Napoli has become an institution known for the quality and authenticity of its Italian cuisine! It is a must and a destination of choice for Hollywood stars such as Clint Eastwood, Robert De Niro, Christopher Reeve, Danny DeVito and Al Pacino.

Their son Alfredo, who was just as involved in the restaurant’s success as the rest of the family, quickly developed the same passion for Italian cuisine as his father.

After receiving a special mention in 1988 for his participation in the Grand Prix du Service Alimentaire, Alfredo deepened his knowledge by studying at the Culinary Academy at LaSalle College. His talents were rewarded and he continued to win awards of excellence, including the Dairy Bureau of Canada’s culinary award, against all the Canadian students present at this competition.

Alfredo hones his culinary skills through various internships with the top chefs from the leading hotels in Switzerland and Italy.

Alfredo went on to become the executive chef of the family restaurant, Casa Napoli, much to his father’s delight.

That same year, the three brothers—Gennaro, Fiore, and Alfredo—along with Giuseppe’s brother Luigi, founded O Sole Mio Inc. It was then Alfredo’s turn to pursue his dream of bringing his own products to market.

Over the past four years, O Sole Mio products have enjoyed great success. Building on this momentum, the Napolitano family began construction this year on a 10,000-square-foot factory in Boisbriand.

The success of O Sole Mio products continued to grow. Through their dedication, bold vision, and strong business acumen, the products quickly expanded into several retail banners across Quebec. Recognizing a valuable opportunity, the Napolitano family also entered the foodservice market and developed a range of private label brands.

Alfredo’s brother, Fiore, a finance manager at a major banking institution, brings his expertise to the company. He now serves as Vice President of Sales and Marketing, overseeing retail, foodservice, and private label channels across Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Always on the lookout for new opportunities with major customers, Fiore regularly attends trade shows around the world.

Thanks to their audacity and Fiore’s expertise, O Sole Mio products began to be exported to the United States and Mexico, where the brand is ranked number 1!

O Sole Mio received the most prestigious award, the Investment of the Year Award, and was also named Manufacturing Company of the Year, following the construction of a new facility and the relocation of the company.

After years of dedicated efforts to propel O Sole Mio products to the top of supermarket sales, Fiore Napolitano received the “Food Export Personality of the Year” award!

Opening of a 185,000 sq. ft. LEED-certified factory in Boisbriand employing 200 people.

This vision, brought to life and executed with a clear strategy, is now a true success. O Sole Mio’s fresh, frozen, and ready-to-serve products are available in major retail chains across North America and Mexico.

In an effort to refresh its image, O Sole Mio launched a large-scale modernization campaign.

The logo was simplified, the brand identity took a new direction, all visuals and packaging were redesigned, and the company strengthened its presence on social media to maintain a consistent and active visibility.