An important recognition for an ultra-centenarian brand that has written the history of the international confectionery sector. On Thursday, September 29th the Council Chamber of the City of Prato hosted the presentation ceremony of the thematic series “The Excellence of the Italian Production and Economic System” with the issuance by the Ministry of Economic Development, in collaboration with the Italian Post Office, of a 0.95 cents postage stamp dedicated to Biscottificio Antonio Mattei 1858 (Prato), the famous brand, member of the Italian Historic Companies Association with the Historic Building and Union Italian, producing the traditional almond cookies from Prato (“cantuccini”).
“Within the excellence of the Made in Italy, the Mattei family has a leading position and a protagonist role, with its passion and determination in making a product, the famous “mattonella” (‘tile)’, that makes the name of Prato well known all around the world”, said the mayor of Prato Matteo Biffoni. “The life of our country is made up of relevant manufacturing businesses built with talent and courage – added the Hon. Antonello Giacomelli, undersecretary of the Ministry of Economic Development – The history of the Mattei family testifies the entrepreneurial excellence that has always been interwoven with the social fabric of the city of Prato”.
Prof Giuseppe Nigro, economic history expert and former professor at the University of Florence, has traced the history of the “almond cookies” already known in the Middle Ages, and loved by Catherine de’ Medici. “It was Antonio Mattei who, by opening a bakery in Prato, had the brilliant idea of refining the recipe to create this inimitable cookie mentioned by Herman Hesse, Indro Montanelli, Pellegrino Artusi, and Armando Meoni, a writer from Prato” said Nigro.
On behalf of the Pandolfini family, Elizabeth (running the company together with her brothers Marcella, Letizia and Francis), who greeted the guests, remembered how the celebration was a special event for the city, the company and her family, and thanked all those who had helped making the name of Prato known all around the world thanks to the Biscottificio’s blue bag .
