The current year is looking good for Italian chestnuts after several problematic seasons, especially when it came to industrial procurement. Domenico De Lucia launched "le Bollottole" chestnuts, a valid alternative for consumers looking for the seasonal must-have.
In the photo : Pino Colonna sales co-director at Domenico De Lucia.
"Our roasted chestnuts represent the evolution of home-roasted chestnuts: they are whole pre-scored chestnuts roasted precisely like we find them in kiosks in the fall. You just need to warm them up and toast them slightly in a pan to enjoy the experience of real roasted chestnuts. The main innovation of "le Bollottole" is precisely that of being real roasted chestnuts," explains Pino Colona.
Domenico De Lucia is a company that has invested a lot, especially in the already-cooked segment. Located in San Felice a Cancello, in the Caserta province, this year it celebrates its 90th anniversary in the processing of typical local products. It boasts two state-of-the-art facilities equipped with processing lines that handle around 7 thousand tons a year on average.
"After a careful R&D process, we managed to obtain a unique product compared to that of our competitors, who offer exclusively peeled chestnuts."
In the photo: Igino Cecchetti, the other sales co-director
"Thanks to the new recipe, we managed to obtain a compact product with an enveloping flavor available in a 300 gram format with a high service content for consumers. Le Bollottole are whole pre-scored chestnuts that are roasted with care and steamed, a process that conveys the flavor and beneficial properties typical of roasted chestnuts," explains Igino Cecchetti, sales co-director of De Lucia.
The uniqueness of this product is precisely the experience consumers enjoy of making roasted chestnuts without the lengthy process and obtaining the same pleasing result.
The fact that chestnuts are whole, means they have the same aroma and feel only roasted peel can convey.
Another point of strength is represented by the decision of using rigid packaging to protect the integrity of each single chestnut. The produce is packaged in modified atmosphere (ATM) to guarantee the freshness and flavor of the original preparation.
"The target identified is part of the gold shopper category, i.e. consumers who have little time for cooking but who are passionate about good healthy food," stresses marketing manager Domenico Casaleno.
Of course preparation time is quick, as the product is pre-cooked with the best techniques to preserve its properties and quality. Consumers can also use the chestnuts as ingredients to complete a dish, going beyond the pure function of the already-cooked range that is ready to eat.
Soft chestnuts, i.e. delicious steamed peeled chestnuts, are also part of the range. Compact and with an enveloping flavor that fully respects the tradition of boiled chestnuts. This product too was developed to have various uses and functions: it can be used to prepare various dishes or as a fall-winter snack. The innovative packaging with an airtight rigid container preserves the integrity and freshness of the chestnuts, even once they've been opened.
Contacts:
Domenico De Lucia S.p.A.
Via Maddaloni, 3
81027 San Felice a Cancello (CE)
Tel.: (+39) 0823 802511
Fax: (+39) 0823 802515
Email: info@domenicodelucia.it
Website: www.domenicodelucia.it