Two years after Antonio opened Italia Pizzeria in Matane, the local supermarkets came calling. They wanted him
to prepare partially cooked pizzas for them to sell at their counters. He boldly rose to the challenge by building
a factory in Matane’s industrial park and founding Italia Distribution.

At the factory, they produced Antonio’s famous partially cooked pizzas,
but also sub sandwiches and cretons, which would quickly become one
of the company’s most popular products. In 1976, one year after becoming
Les Aliments Gaspésien, the factory diversified to start producing meat pies,
egg rolls, and even cakes.

New name, new vocation: in 1981 Les Aliments Gaspésien became
Les Cuisines Gaspésiennes in order to start marketing its own products.
Under the brand name Gaspésien, the company added cooked ham,
smoked ham, salami, and pepperoni to the family roster.

In 1986, after a fire destroyed the factory, the company moved into a new,
custom-built facility in the Matane industrial park in keeping with its needs
and ambitions.

The Gaspésien brand was on a roll. Its reputation continued to grow as its mock chicken, cretons, and hams became category bestsellers at an increasing number
of supermarkets. This reputation allowed the company to develop new products
and capture new markets.

Antonio’s eldest son, Enrico, became general manager of the company plant.
His second son, Luca, started working at Villa Carpinteri, the vineyard Antonio founded in Saint-Ulric. At this vineyard, over 10,000 grapevines defy the climate, making it the northernmost vineyard in Canada.

​www.vignoblecarpinteri.com