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The
Peyrano family and chocolate in Turin
A
family and chocolate
The
name Peyrano became connected with chocolate ever since 1920,
when Antonio decided to start making it by adapting the small
workshop in Corso Moncalieri 47, previously used for the
production and sale of sweets.
The
entire family took part in
the new business: from Grandpa
Giacomo to Antonio’s
sisters, Giovanna and Lucia, responsible for packaging and sales, and (from 1922)
to Giacomo jr., father of Giuseppe, today’s owner.
The early stages were by no means easy. The Peyrano’s
had to drop production of sweets owing to competition
from the large, well-equipped producers, whereas
chocolate production called for great skill.
The machinery was scanty and essential: a roaster, a cocoa-crusher, a brieuse
(refiner), a mortar, where cocoa and sugar are mixed. Only later on more expensive
machines were employed, such as the melangeur (mixer) provided by the Galantini
firm.
Here is a passage from a memoir
Giacomo Peyrano wrote in the 1980’s: “In June 1926 the Marquise Dalla
Valle di Pomaro entered our shop to purchase a dozen boxes of chocolates on behalf
of Her Majesty the Queen. Payment, of course, would be carried out upon receipt
of the invoice. When we told Uncle Antonio what had happened, he was shocked
by our good faith and commented: ‘You fools! Do you really believe the
Queen would have somebody purchase chocolates from you?…’, Somewhat
bewildered, Aunt Lucia and my mother Giovanna went that same evening to Via Carlo
Alberto, where the Marquise lived: they ascertained the truthfulness of the order
and came back overjoyed”.
The continuity of the Peyrano family.
After the death of the founder in 1926, his nephew Giacomo went on running the
business along with his mother Giovanna. In 1932 he was joined by his wife Angiola.
In 1953 his elder son Giuseppe entered the family
business. Thanks also to the employment of highly
advanced machinery for the time, the range of chocolates
was broadened. New models, with new shapes and flavours, were introduced besides
the traditional ones: thus the “walnuts”, “hazel-nuts”, “almonds”, “shells”, “hearts” and
many more were born.
In 1963 the Pfatisch confectioner’s shop, located in
Corso Vittorio Emanuele 76, was taken over and became “Peyrano Pfatisch”.
He was followed in the 1970’s by Giulia and Bruna, respective
wives of Giuseppe and Giorgio.
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