A Sicilian olive oil producer has opened a new facility in Rutherford designed to serve as both a cultural showcase and business platform connecting Sicily with the American market.
Manfredi Barbera & Figli S.p.A. unveiled Little Sicily on Tuesday, Sept. 22, at its U.S. headquarters on Union Avenue. The venue will function as a showroom for Sicilian food and agricultural products, a space for meetings and tastings, and a connection point for Sicilian companies seeking American buyers and distributors.
Little Sicily will function as a showroom for Sicilian food and agricultural products, as well as a space for meetings and tastings.Maggie McGill Photography
The opening ceremony drew local and regional officials, as well as the Sicilian regional councilor for productive activities. The event included a ribbon-cutting, project presentation and tasting of traditional Sicilian dishes.
Founded in 1894, Manfredi Barbera & Figli is now led by the fourth generation of the Barbera family. The company established its American presence in 2018 with the founding of Manfredi Barbera USA Corp. in Rutherford.
“Little Sicily was created to tell the story of the Sicily we know and love — its land, its people, its ability to hold tradition and vision together,” said Manfredi Barbera, sole director of Manfredi Barbera & Figli. “It’s a real bridge of opportunity between our two territories.”
The facility aims to give the Italian American community and broader American public access to Sicilian food, agricultural heritage and culture while creating opportunities for economic partnerships.
Tamajo emphasized the strategic significance of the venture.
“The opening of ‘Little Sicily’ is about far more than a new space opening its doors: it’s a Sicilian outpost in the United States, a place where identity, culture and entrepreneurial drive can become real opportunities for growth,” he said. “Initiatives like the one launched by Manfredi Barbera show just how far our businesses can go on international markets when quality, vision and deep roots in the local territory move forward together.”
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