Some wait for manna from heaven, and some bring it to the world. That’s exactly what
Fiasconaro, a historic Sicilian confectionery company that began as a small village workshop and went on to conquer international markets with its panettone and artisanal desserts, has done.
The story begins in 1953, in Castelbuono, a charming medieval village in the heart of the Madonie mountains. Here, Mario Fiasconaro opened a bar-pastry shop offering traditional desserts and granitas, prepared with ice collected from the mountain snowfields. But it was his son, Nicola, who realised that the real future of the business lay not in cassata or cannoli, but in a dessert typically associated with northern Italy: panettone. It was a visionary choice, almost against the tide, which transformed a Milanese product into a Sicilian masterpiece and, over time, into a symbol of Made in Italy.
Panettone with manna: when Sicily meets the world
In the 1980s, Fiasconaro began producing artisanal panettone cakes in its bakery. Among these, the famous Mannetto stands out, made unique by a special ingredient: manna, the sugary sap that flows from the ash trees of the Madonie mountains, extracted by hand in the height of summer by the so-called “mannaruoli.” This direct link with the territory gives the product a wholly Sicilian soul, setting it apart from any other Christmas dessert.
Since then, the company has continued to grow steadily. Nicola, together with his brothers Fausto and Martino, has transformed the Castelbuono bakery into an international business. Today, Fiasconaro exports to over 60 countries, with a turnover that reached €34 million in 2024. The United States is the primary foreign market, followed by Spain, Switzerland, and France. A temporary store will also open soon in Manhattan, confirming the company’s desire to establish a direct presence in key markets.
From NASA to Antarctica: interesting facts and records
The history of Fiasconaro is dotted with curious episodes that reinforce its myth. In 2007, some panettone and almond paste-based desserts were chosen by NASA and taken aboard the Shuttle Discovery. At Christmas 2023, the panettone from Castelbuono reached Italian researchers in Antarctica, a symbolic festive embrace that spanned the globe.
In 2020, institutional recognition also arrived: President Sergio Mattarella named Nicola Fiasconaro a Knight of Labour. This appointment has profound meaning: it is not simply a recognition, but an honour that encompasses an entire history. The history of a family.
Roots and region: the value of Made in Italy
Notwithstanding its global reach, the company maintains strong ties with Sicily. Forty-five per cent of its turnover is reinvested locally, supporting local producers and supply chains. Ingredients such as Bronte pistachios, Modica chocolate, almonds, citrus fruits, and manna continue to be the stars of the recipes, making Fiasconaro desserts authentic ambassadors of Made in Italy around the world. Fiasconaro products are the result of a continuous search for ancient and genuine flavours, an authentic expression of the island’s rural tradition, combined with the most rigorous control of the requirements of each supplier and each individual supply.
A forward-looking philosophy
Nicola Fiasconaro’s philosophy is summed up in a phrase that has become famous: “In Sicily, everyone made cassata. I, on the other hand, wanted to make panettone.” It is precisely this ability to look beyond without forgetting one’s roots that has made Fiasconaro panettone a symbol of Italian excellence. Today, with a solid turnover, dozens of employees, and a presence in over 60 countries, the company continues to demonstrate how, from a small Sicilian village, it is possible to reach the whole world.
Fiasconaro is an example of how Made in Italy knows how to combine tradition, quality, and creativity, bringing the flavours of Sicily beyond national borders without losing their identity. It is proof that a region, its stories, and its raw materials can become ambassadors of excellence worldwide, making our gastronomic culture a global heritage to be savoured and admired.
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