Thousands of photographs, films, promotional items, packaging, and publications tell a story that began in rural Italy of 1877 when ‘Panificio artigianale di Pietro Barilla‘ was opened, and that continues today with an internationally renowned group that takes the Made in Italy all over the world. Now, this wealth of material has been made available to the public with an online archive. The Barilla Historical Archive is the culmination of a project conceived by the late Pietro Barilla with the aim of preserving and enhancing the documentation of the family business.
A real digital museum that testifies not only the history of a company but also a journey into eating habits and social changes in Italian society. Users now have access to 35,000 documents that trace the economic activity, the communication, and advertising strategy of the Barilla brands, which include also Mulino Bianco, Pavesi, Pan di Stelle, and Voiello. A section is dedicated to a rich photo library, with thousands of images of the company from 1913 to today that illustrate the development of a true Made in Italy dynasty that is now in its fourth generation. The graphic design and communication section is another important one of the archive, with over 150 advertising posters from the 1920s, promotional gadgets, and about 2700 cinema and TV ads. For the latter, the collaborations with important directors, musicians, and testimonials have been countless, and they include such names as Fellini, Tornatore, Falcao, Vangelis, Depardieu, Mina, Graf, Federer.
