Interview with Luigi Marulo — Founder of Pastificio Marulo

In this episode, you’ll meet Luigi Marulo, one of the men behind the most delicious, premium pasta brands I’ve ever tried (and I’ve tried them all)! I had the pleasure of meeting Luigi at the Fancy Food show in New York.  After recording this podcast episode with him, Luigi invited me to visit his pasta factory in Naples, Italy and it turned out to be one of the most profound experiences this crazy job has led me to. Before the podcast, I decided to try Marulo pasta for myself. I was initially a bit skeptical of its premium price, however, I was quickly won over by the taste and texture. Luigi attributes the excellence of their pasta to their use of ancient superior durum wheat, 100% Italian ingredients, and meticulous artisanal drying processes. And all of that is true. I saw it with my own eyes. The factory was pristine and organized and the ingredients and the process were beautiful. But what truly sets Pastifico Marulo apart is the love and passion that go into every step of the process. Every detail of the process and every ingredient they use has been carefully considered and was beautifully explained on our tour. There is a respect for the food, the land, and the meal, that I don’t know if most would appreciate without hearing it straight from Luigi.After the tour, Luigi treated my daughter and I to a delightful lunch at his family’s beach club where we sampled incredible pasta dishes. Luigi generously offered to drive us back to Naples where we were staying, with 8 boxes of pasta in tow. That pasta was carried by hand on 6 trains and one plane from Naples to Cinque Terre and then to Milan before making its way to my home. I learned a lot that day, but I felt even more. Many people say you have to “try it” to really get it. That has never felt more true to me. Yes, This is a blog about a founder. And also, a thank you for the reminders about what matters in our industry and more importantly, our lives.  In this episode you’ll hear:

•  The family’s  commitment to their slow, meticulous process
• The strategies  and challenges of getting distribution in the US
• What it is really like to work in a family business
• And why he is absolutely fine with building this family business the way they make their pasta: slowly and with love and passion.

 Listen to The Irresistible Factor’s Interview with Luigi Marulo, Founder of Pastificio Marulo.  Links mentioned in this episode:  Luigi Marulo on LinkedIn Pastificio Marulo  Pastificio Marulo on Instagram Francesca e Nunziata Beyond Distribution Fruit of the Boot Distribution Manzo Food 2023 Summer Fancy Food Show The Irresistible Factor Podcast  Sawtooth Group