At the age of 73, Franco Ruta left us a few days ago. Owner of the centenarian Antica Dolceria Bonajuto 1854 (Modica, Sicily) and member of the Association since 2015, Franco Ruta was called “The Chocolate King”. Thanks to the extraordinary passion and ingenuity of an acute entrepreneur, he managed to revive Modica’s chocolate tradition by combining entrepreneurship and marketing, gastronomy and tourism.
“Pasta Amara”, the short film dedicated by director Ivano Fachin to that historic company, was admitted to the final stage of the “Ancient Future” competition promoted by the Union in 2014 and won the second prize. Franco Ruta didn’t miss the award ceremony, held at the Odeon movie theatre in Florence, and expressed his closeness to the young director, a dear friend of his.
The Italian ultra-centenarian business community lost one of its most brilliant entrepreneurs, who managed to combine the quality of Made in Italy products with the symbiotic link to the land he was born in and belonged to.
The Italian Historic Companies Association’s members extend their deepest sympathies to Franco Ruta’s son Pierpaolo and his family.
