About Cirio
Cirio is Italy's favourite tomato brand, founded in 1856 by Francesco Cirio in Turin. As a twenty-year-old entrepreneur, Cirio revolutionised food preservation and became Italy's most important agricultural exporter, shipping fresh Italian produce to Paris and London. Today, Cirio is the best-selling Italian tomato brand in the UK and holds approximately 10% of the canned tomatoes market. Francesco Cirio opened the company's first factory in Torino, and by 1867 was showcasing products at the Exposition Universelle in Paris, receiving prestigious awards. He then began exporting across the world from Liverpool to Sydney. Cirio was the pioneer of the canning industry and the first to believe in the San Marzano tomato variety, choosing it from over 300 Italian varieties to produce the first canned peeled tomatoes. In 1875, Cirio opened the first processing and canning facility near Naples, allowing San Marzano tomatoes to be shipped throughout Italy and beyond. By Francesco's death in 1900, he had opened many factories across southern Italy, boosting local economies. The company passed to partner Pietro Signorini and remained with the Signorini family until 1970. Today, Cirio is part of Conserve Italia Group, a major European agri-food cooperative encompassing over 14,500 farmers and processing more than 650,000 tonnes of produce annually. The UK distribution is handled by Mediterranean Growers Ltd, based in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire. Cirio's product range includes Polpa (chopped tomatoes), Pelati (peeled plum tomatoes), Polpa Finissima (finely chopped), Passata, and tomato purée. The plum tomatoes come from Puglia in Southern Italy, grown in limestone-rich soils with Mediterranean winds. As of January 2024, all Cirio Peeled Plum tomatoes 400g are climate neutral, offsetting their footprint by supporting the Laguna del Dogà ecosystem. Compare Cirio Italian tomato prices across UK supermarkets including Tesco, Sainsbury's, Waitrose, and Asda with Grocefully to find the best deals on authentic Italian tomatoes.