Our slice of history

Established in 1972, the company is the fruit of many years of hard work. Fresh from Siruacusa, Sicily, Antonio Carpinteri cherished the dream of starting his own business. This is how Italia Pizzéria opened its doors in 1972 on Saint-Pierre Street, in Matane.

Two years later, Antonio received a request from supermarkets to produce semi-cooked pizzas to be sold at the counter. Antonio is fearless and takes up the challenge by building a factory to make his famous semi-cooked pizza. His factory, called Italia Distribution, produces not only pizza, but also submarine sandwiches and cretons that have won the hearts of Quebecers for many a long year! In 1975, the company donned the name Les Aliments Gaspésien and, one year later, added egg rolls and cake to its range of products.

In 1981, Les Aliments Gaspésien became Les Cuisines Gaspésiennes to market its own products. And so, cooked ham, smoked pork shoulder, salami, and pepperoni were added to the other products.

Based in the industrial park of Matane, the factory was destroyed in a fire in 1986. In the face of adversity, Antonio pushed forward and took advantage of this opportunity to rebuild a factory tailored to his needs and his vision.

In the 2000s, the Gaspésien brand gained notoriety among Quebecers. Its mock chicken, cretons, and hams acquired a reputation as the best in their categories, increasing their presence in supermarkets.