This remarkable story was recently highlighted by the Los Angeles Times in its “Tasting Notes” column, where it introduced readers to Gustiamo, a business founded 25 years ago by a true Neapolitan. The company imports high-quality products from Italian producers carefully selected for their commitment to preserving Made in Italy standards and ensuring ethical working conditions.
The mission is twofold: **to delight American customers with authentic, high-quality products while serving as a bastion of Italian excellence in the United States. This is the vision of Beatrice Ughi, the founder and tireless advocate behind Gustiamo. The company’s headquarters—a large warehouse on West Farm Road in the Bronx, a commercial area with many food-focused facilities—houses only the finest Italian products. Sales are conducted through a website that the Californian newspaper calls “the Italian culinary resource every cook should know.”
Honored in 2023 with the title of Cavaliere della Repubblica Italiana (Knight of the Italian Republic), Ughi has come a long way. In the 1980s, she worked as an auditor for the multinational firm Ernst & Young, but her career took a decisive turn a decade later. At the time, the small Italian start-up Esperya invited her to oversee the U.S. launch of its online platform specializing in traditional Italian food products—when “e-commerce” was still an unfamiliar term. In 1999, she began importing Italian food products to the** United States and Canada**, establishing an online marketplace for Italian specialties while building strong relationships with farmers, distillers, bakers, and pastry makers.
Today, a dozen people work on the Gustiamo project, including many graduates from the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo, along with a handful of warehouse staff from the Bronx. In addition to its online store, Gustiamo also operates a robust wholesale program. Ughi and her team remain steadfast in their commitment to quality, transparency, and fair pricing, ensuring that everyone—from professional chefs to home cooks—can access the very best of Italian craftsmanship.