About Antonio's La Bella Italia

La Bella Italia's aim is to offer New Zealanders the foods, flavours, passion and history of the Italian lifestyle.

Founder Antonio Cacace's passion for food goes back many years. When he was just five, he used to travel to the market in Parma with his father to buy prosciutto and cheeses. They would then stamp the prosciutto and cheeses with their family crest, leave it to dry in the famous Parma wind, then have it sent to the family restaurant as required.

When Antonio arrived in New Zealand in 1991, he simply couldn't find the quality foodstuffs he was used to cooking with back in Italy. So he began organising for friends and relatives back home who were coming out to New Zealand to bring with them selected foodstuffs and delicacies.

By 1996, this love of Italian food in the New Zealand environment had become so strong, that La Bella Italia was born.

Antonio's Achievements

After school graduation, Antonio completed a five year course on the Hospitality Industry. Antonio also managed the family hotel and restaurant, La Primavera and then travelled extensively throughout Europe to enable him to enrich his experience.

Antonio's long time passion though for the Hospitality Industry gave birth to La Bella Italia in Petone, Wellington in 2002 and after careful and aggressive nurturing, the concept is a phenomenon today.

In 2006 La Bella Italia was a winner at the Wellington Region Gold Awards.

La Bella Italia was also the 2006 Top Shop Overall Winner.

In 2007 Antonio was awarded The Order of Merit by the Italian government and holds the title of Cavaliere.

An ardent lover of Italian tradition and culture, he has been actively involved with the organisation of the Italian Festival in New Zealand and is a board member for Club Garibaldi.

Antonio is a great lover of family and children and contributes regularly to the cause of children.