ORIGINS THAT SHAPE THE FUTURE
1884, NAPLES.
THE BEGINNING OF A STORY
The origins of Labadia lie in Naples in 1884, in a context where the value of the product was rooted in experience, craft knowledge and a culture of making built over time. From this original core, a reality began to take shape, destined to grow far beyond the boundaries of the city and, by the early twentieth century, become a recognised presence in the Italian landscape of liqueurs and spirits. From the very beginning, the identity of the group was linked to a clear vision: to transform tradition into a living heritage, capable of evolving without losing character. The distinctive bottles of liqueurs that made the Labadia family known were not simply a formal hallmark, but expressed an idea of product tied to prestige, recognisability and a distinctly Italian way of interpreting elegance and presence. It is no coincidence that these liqueurs were often presented to figures holding the highest political and social positions, becoming part of an image of value that extended well beyond simple consumption.
EVOLVING WITHOUT LOSING IDENTITY
Over the decades, this legacy never hardened into a purely celebratory memory. On the contrary, it became the foundation of a progressive growth, capable of reading changes in taste and accompanying market transformations. From the 1950s onward, the Labadia range began to expand into new categories, intercepting post-war trends and building an increasingly articulated assortment. It was in this phase that the company clearly demonstrated a quality that would continue to define it over time: the ability to evolve without losing sight of its own matrix.
LIMONCELLO DI SORRENTO, ROOTS BECOMING DIRECTION.
With Limoncello di Sorrento, Labadia moved through a passage that made its direction clearer. This was not simply the affirmation of a product destined to become emblematic, but the moment in which the group expressed more distinctly some of its defining traits: its bond with the territory, the enhancement of origin and the ability to transform tradition into a contemporary presence. The opening of an artisan workshop in the historic centre of Sorrento further strengthened this direction, giving the product an authentic and highly recognisable context. It was a choice that brought together rootedness and vision, helping to make limoncello not only a successful reference, but one of the most complete expressions of Labadia’s identity. In the 1990s, precisely through the success of limoncello, the company progressively expanded its reach, strengthening its presence nationally and opening with greater continuity to new markets. In this sense, limoncello does not represent a fortunate parenthesis, but one of the moments in which the group’s path took on a more defined, solid and recognisable shape.
BROADER GROWTH, A CLEARER DIRECTION.
Today, Labadia Group 1884 interprets its journey in a broader and more structured form. The experience developed over time now translates into a portfolio of over forty brands spanning the core business of spirits and extending into wine and soft drinks, with a presence that engages with different markets, cultures and consumption habits. It is a growth built without breaking the thread of its origin, but instead transforming it into a solid foundation from which to evolve with greater awareness. Today, at the helm of Labadia Group 1884, brothers Ernesto and Davide Di Giuseppe carry this path forward with a vision oriented towards continuity, specialisation and a contemporary reading of the market. It is precisely in this balance between experience and direction that the past continues to define the present, not as a memory to be preserved, but as an active principle shaping selection, quality and identity. In the ability to move between the horeca world and the nightlife scene, in the direct import of the finest American whiskeys and Caribbean rums, in the production of vodka obtained through selected grain distillations, as well as in the choice of grape varieties destined for high-profile grappas, monovarietal and barrique, the same original drive can still be found: to build value through expertise, coherence and vision.
