“From our kitchen to yours, thank you for your continued support.”
The Magnano Family
Antonio Magnano comes to America from Italy at 26 years of age to open a wholesale grocery company called A. Magnano & Co.
A. Magnano & Co. establishes the brand “Napoleon” and begins selling olive oil under the new trademark.
A. Magnano & Co. expands the business by buying a fleet of trucks to deliver products directly to stores. The company sells Napoleon Olive Oil, Best Foods Mayonnaise, Nucoa Margarine, S & W Coffee and Pabst Malt Syrup products.
Antonio Magnano’s sons Angelo Magnano and Marco Magnano Sr. are the 2nd generation to join the company.
The company becomes A. Magnano & Sons and is the first to distribute beer and wine in the Pacific Northwest after prohibition has ended.
A. Magnano & Sons gets into the manufacturing business by producing Old Yankee Foods Chili, Peanut Butter & Syrup products.
A. Magnano & Sons become the first distributors of Kikkoman Soy Sauce, Lawry’s Salad Dressing, Mauna Loa Macadamia Nuts & Schweppes Sparkling Water in the Pacific Northwest.
Antonio Magnano passes away at the age of 75 after working in the company for 49 years.
A. Magnano & Sons sells 51% of the business to Jim Fortney, Dean Thompson & Joe Santucci and starts The Napoleon Co.
The Napoleon Co. establishes itself as an Importer in specialty foods and a brokerage company.
Angelo Magnano’s son Joe Magnano and Marco Magnano Sr.’s son Milo Magnano Sr. are the first of the 3rd generation to join the company.
The Napoleon Co. is the first to import artichokes and olives in the Pacific Northwest.
The Napoleon Co. expands its import portfolio to over 75 items.
Angelo Magnano’s daughter Susan Magnano Salazar is the next of the 3rd generation to join the company.
Angelo Magnano and Marco Magnano Sr. both retire from the company after working in the company for 56 years. (Angelo later passes away in 1997 at the age of 80. Marco later passes away in 2009 at the age of 95.)
The Napoleon Co. expands its distribution geographically outside of the Pacific Northwest into the Intermountain and Southwest regions.
Angelo Magnano’s granddaughter Amy Smith Kirtland is the first of the 4th generation to join the company. (Amy has since left the company.)
Milo Magnano Sr. retires from the company after working in the company for 28 years.
The Napoleon Co. is the first to import organic olive oil and vinegar into the Pacific Northwest.
Milo Magnano Sr.’s son Milo Magnano Jr. is the next of the 4th generation to join the company.
The Napoleon celebrates its 100th Year Anniversary!
Milo Magnano Sr.’s son Tony Magnano is the next of the 4th generation to join the company.
Joe Magnano’s son Ben Magnano is the next of the 4th generation to join the company as an outside investor.
The Napoleon Co. expands its import portfolio to over 150 items and continues its distribution geographically into the Midwest region.
Susan Magnano Salazar retires from the company after working in the company for 32 years.
The Napoleon Co. exits the brokerage business after 57 years.
Today, the Napoleon Co. imports over 180 specialty food items and sells these items into 26 states throughout the Pacific Northwest, Intermountain, Southwest, Midwest and Southeast regions. Joe, Ben, Milo Jr. and Tony are current owners and await the 5th generation.
