About Giovanni's

For seven decades, Giovanni's has played an important role in the development of specialty food products. In 1929, Giovanni Ricossa, an Italian immigrant, started his culinary career as an assistant to a group of French chefs at Detroit's famous Cadillac Hotel. Giovanni soon learned their Culinary secrets and perfected the art of pâté preparation. It was also at the Cadillac that Giovanni first prepared his antipasto which he remembered from his childhood days in northwestern Italy. This antipasto became so popular with the hotel guests that Giovanni was urged by a friend to package his delicious product.

In 1935, Giovanni and his wife Elvira purchased production equipment and set up headquarters for his fledgling business in a rented garage in Detroit. In 1944, Giovanni's antipasto was declared by the U.S. government to be "unessential to the war effort" and they were not permitted to buy glass or cans. In efforts to survive the restrictions of the war years, Giovanni developed his now world-famous pâté. The inaugural pâté was of the chicken liver variety and has proven to be one of the company's best sellers.

1949, Giovanni's Appetizing Food Products relocated to Richmond, MI - its home ever since. The company sells throughout the United States and exports to Canada, Asia, Europe, Central America, South America, Puerto Rico, and Australia. Many of the ingredients used in Giovanni's products come from all over the world. Giovanni's son Philip Ricossa, and grandsons Giovanni and Philip Jr. continue to run the privately owned family business that was started by him over 70 years ago.