Our Heritage

Grande’s story began in 1891, in the small Sicilian village of Montelepre, Italy, where founder Filippo Candela was then born. It was in this warm, agriculturally rich region where he learned the art of making fine Italian cheese.

In 1925, shortly after marrying his wife Provvidenza, Filippo moved from the economic instability of post-war Italy to America in search of better opportunities. Initially purchasing a small dairy farm and orchard, he moved to Wisconsin to pursue his passion for cheese making. Speaking only a few words of English, he met an Italian cheese buyer from the Old World. This meeting sowed the seeds of a new cheese company formed by Filippo and a handful of family and friends. They named it Grande – a fitting name as the Italian word for ‘greatness’ – and its authentic cheeses soon became favorites with Italian immigrant families across the United States.

In the early years, Grande crafted traditional, aged Italian eating and grating cheeses such as Provolone and Romano. As pizza grew in popularity, Grande began to produce its trademarked Mozzarella, which soon became recognized as the most exceptional of cheeses for pizza. Grande cheeses are now known and trusted nationally as “The finest Italian cheeses money can buy!”™

Filippo and Enza’s passion for excellence continues to live on through every Grande Associate. Integrity, respect, and the pursuit of greatness are ingrained in everything we do and that is the difference you can taste in every bite of food made with Grande cheese.